Village Barometer: real estate prices, safety, health, traditions - three communes between Nîmes and Montpellier for a better living

Le Figaro magazine has released a barometer of the best villages to live in between Nimes and Montpellier. The magazine claims to have compared the quality of life in96 municipalities located between Garon and Herault based on34 criteria, including safety, environmental pollution, real estate, leisure, health care, and transportation.

Three Gard villages - Codognan, Le Cailar, and Junas - are leading in this ranking. Between the two major cities of the region, Nîmes and Montpellier, there are many towns and villages stretching for about 60 kilometers on both sides of the A9 motorway. These communes have experienced significant growth in recent years. Covid especially encouraged many city dwellers to move to the countryside. These small communes attract active people working in both Nîmes and Montpellier, as there is more space here than in the city. They also attract many retirees leaving northern France to enjoy the sun and the sea.

According to the Le Figaro ranking, based on 34 key criteria, Codognan is the best place to live. Located halfway between the two main cities of Languedoc, Codognan has 2,500 residents. This dynamic Gard village is dedicated to the traditions of bullfighting and benefits from the Perrier spring, which is a major driver of employment in the region. Its main advantage, according to the ranking, is the "high-quality sports and leisure facilities" (6th place out of 96). The large number of shops has also been recognized (4th place out of 96): Codognan residents have access to a variety of services (stores, pharmacies, bakeries) and, most importantly, a sufficient number of kindergartens and schools. Safety is another strong point of the commune, with two municipal police officers and a night patrol service (27th place out of 96).

Not far from "Codognan," as they say in these parts, located in the heart of Petit Camargue, Le Cailar is also well-regarded by its residents, who live near the marshes with horses and bulls, and often stand up for their local traditions. "With 97.1% of the commune's territory unchanged, nature reigns in Le Cailar," emphasize our colleagues from Le Figaro. The capital of Gard's bullfighting culture ranks 21st out of 96 in the category of "environment and pollution." This peaceful place, where there are 80 residents per square meter, shares the same advantages in leisure (4th place out of 96) and access to shops (11th place out of 96) as Codognan. The real estate market (77th place out of 96) is somewhat less dynamic than the average for cities. However, it is a micro-market with very few offerings and a quick response from local residents to the most interesting villas.

Finally, in third place in the ranking is Junas, located in the north of A9 between Vidourle and the department of Hérault. It is one of the least populated municipalities in the entire ranking, with just over 1,000 residents. Nestled in the garrigue, not far from Sommières, this quiet village is actively developing and witnessing the emergence of new residential complexes. In this ranking, Junas takes first place in the safety category and eighth place in the "sports-leisure-culture" category. This village, close to the garrigue, is relatively free from pollution due to its distance from major roads and highways: it ranks 13th in environmental issues but drops to 62nd place in transportation and mobility. Still, you can't achieve everything...