The Villes et Villages où il fait bon vivre association unveils its annual national rankings, based on 197 quality-of-life criteria across eleven categories. For the 2026 edition, no Parisian municipality makes it into the top 10, which is led by Biarritz, Annecy, and Bayonne. We analyzed the results from the eight departments to identify the ten towns with the highest scores in the Paris region. The findings highlight a clear dominance by one department, with a few notable exceptions in Yvelines and Val-de-Marne.
Hauts-de-Seine dominates the regional ranking with seven cities in the top 10 — a clear indication of the department’s strong performance in this study. Only Versailles and Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Yvelines, along with Nogent-sur-Marne in Val-de-Marne, make the cut in this prestigious Île-de-France list. Towns in the Hauts-de-Seine benefit from several key advantages: their close proximity to Paris, high-quality infrastructure, abundant public services and local shops, extensive public transportation networks, and the presence of La Défense’s bustling business district.
Boulogne-Billancourt tops the list of the best cities to live in Île-de-France, ranking 20th nationwide — an impressive achievement for a city of nearly 120,000 residents. This success is driven by its strong offerings in retail, healthcare, and safety, right on Paris’s doorstep. The city boasts municipal pools, schools, and cultural venues. It’s also been transformed through urban renewal projects around Île Seguin, where former Renault factories have been converted into vibrant cultural and residential hubs, attracting both businesses and new residents.
Versailles ranks 22nd nationwide and is the top city in the Yvelines department within the Île-de-France regional top 10 for quality of life in 2026. The historic royal city skillfully blends its rich heritage with modern amenities, offering convenient access to Paris via the RER C and Transilien lines. The city’s position continues to rise: it was 44th in 2024, 24th in 2025, and now holds 22nd place in 2026. The iconic château, lush gardens, and its storied history all play a significant role in making Versailles such an attractive place to live.
Courbevoie ranks 23rd nationwide. This rapidly transforming city benefits from its proximity to the La Défense business district while maintaining a mix of residential areas. Its strategic location, combined with accessible infrastructure, public services, and green spaces like Bécon Park, contributes to this high ranking.
Levallois-Perret has ranked 30th nationwide, praised for its safety, clean streets, and high-quality infrastructure. The city offers a wide range of municipal facilities, schools, and a well-organized living environment. Its modest size, coupled with comprehensive services, makes it an attractive community to live in.
Asnières-sur-Seine ranks 34th nationwide. The town benefits from good public transportation links, including metro line 13 and the RER C, while maintaining a peaceful, residential atmosphere. The availability of local shops and cultural facilities further boosts its position in the rankings.
Clichy ranks 38th nationwide, thanks to its strategic location between Paris and La Défense. The city offers a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial zones. Its investment in infrastructure and public services is a key factor in this top-tier ranking.
Nogent-sur-Marne, the only representative from Val-de-Marne in this top 10, ranks 41st nationwide. Known as the "Pearl of Eastern Paris," the town maintains its position as the top city in Val-de-Marne for the sixth year in a row and has climbed two spots compared to 2025. Its scenic Marne banks, lush green spaces, the Baltard Pavilion, and close proximity to Bois de Vincennes are among its key assets. The city is well-connected via the RER A and RER E lines.
Colombes ranks as the 42nd nationwide. This family-friendly town offers ample green spaces, sports and cultural facilities, and a vibrant local community. Its excellent transport links, including the Transilien train service and the upcoming extension of Line 15 of the Grand Paris Express, further enhance its connectivity.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye, ranking as the second-largest town in Yvelines, has secured the 43rd spot nationwide. This historic community blends royal heritage, with its chateau housing the National Archaeology Museum, and expansive natural spaces, including a 3,500-hectare state forest. The Nôtre terrace provides stunning views of Paris, while the town center boasts a variety of shops. It also features educational institutions like the international high school, and is well-served by the RER A train line.
Puteaux rounds out the top 10 at 44th nationally, situated right in the heart of La Défense business district. The city blends a strong presence of service-sector activities with residential neighborhoods, backed by a well-developed array of amenities. Its proximity to shopping centers and cultural venues plays a key role in its high ranking.
The 2026 rankings introduce nine new criteria spanning safety, transportation, and health. The methodology now includes SNCF delay statistics and air quality data recorded by Airparif. A total of 197 criteria are organized into eleven categories: safety, health, transportation, commerce, education, and environment—all based on INSEE data and official indices.
The other departments within Île-de-France are taking a different approach: Rueil-Malmaison (92) ranks 50th, Nanterre (92) comes in at 52nd, and Évry-Courcouronnes (Essonne) is 56th. Meanwhile, Paris has dropped to 107th place, a decline of six positions.
Seine-Saint-Denis shows a different picture. With a population of 1.6 million — making it the youngest department in mainland France — no cities in Seine-Saint-Denis crack the top 100. Montreuil ranks at 128th, Rosny-sous-Bois at 170th, and Saint-Denis at 383rd. The safety criteria, assessed at the departmental level, heavily influence the rankings across all the communes in the area.
In the greater suburban area, Yvelines boasts 22 communes ranked among the top 500 nationwide: Versailles (ranked 22nd), Saint-Germain-en-Laye (43rd), Sartrouville (77th), and Poissy (80th). Essonne has 28, with Évry-Courcouronnes leading the pack at 56th place, followed by Massy (108th) and Orsay (154th). In Val-de-Marne, Nogent-sur-Marne ranks highest at 41st, closely followed by Saint-Mandé. Val-d'Oise has seen a notable rise, with Taverny climbing an impressive 58 spots.
The high ranking of Hauts-de-Seine in this top 10 can be attributed to several key factors: a dense and well-planned urban fabric, proactive municipal policies on safety and cleanliness, and significant investments in public services. These communities also boast some of the highest real estate prices in the region.
To view the full ranking of your municipality and see its results across these 197 criteria, visit the official website of the association.
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