The weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche has just published the 2021 ranking of the best French cities to live in.

• _{La Rochelle in the Top 5!} 
• _{Tours ranked 24th}
• _{Orleans ranked 34th}

What criteria are taken into account?

• quality of life
• safety
• shops and services
• transport
• health
• education
• solidarity
• sports and leisure

Other factors considered:

• unemployment
• life expectancy
• whether there is a railway station
• whether there is a butcher’s
• availability of secondary education
• distance to nearest maternity unit
• distance to nearest body of water

In total, some 183 criteria and indicators, published throughout 2020 by Insee (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) or by other governmental bodies, were taken into account to compile this Top 500 list.