Dijon has been named the most attractive large city in France, surpassing cities like Angers and Brest due to high scores in leisure and sports. Public reactions to the ranking have varied, with some questioning its accuracy and others humorously attributing happiness to the city’s famous mustard. The rankings, compiled by ‘Dream City,’ rely on extensive public data and cover over 700 indicators. While the methodology aims for objectivity, users can customize rankings based on personal preferences.
Dijon Tops the List of France’s Most Attractive Cities
Move over, Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Rennes! A recent ranking has crowned Dijon as the most desirable large city in France. The beautiful capital of Burgundy has outshone Angers and Brest, thanks to its impressive scores in leisure and sports categories. This ranking considers metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 150,000.
Public Reactions and Methodology Behind the Rankings
Responses to these findings have been mixed. One user on X exclaimed, “I am from Dijon, and this is totally false!” while another humorously suggested that “it’s the mustard that makes you happy,” highlighting the city’s iconic condiment. The rankings have also raised eyebrows for cities like Nantes, which has sparked debate over its place in the top 10. One comment sarcastically noted, “It’s nice to live there with a cut throat!” implying that safety concerns should impact its ranking.
So, what makes these rankings credible? The site ‘Dream City,’ which conducts these assessments, is open about its evaluation methodology. It utilizes a comprehensive collection of public data sourced from various governmental bodies, including ministries, regional authorities, and public agencies. This data comprises statistics from INSEE, Ademe, CAF, SNCF, and Météo-France, resulting in the analysis of over 700 indicators across diverse categories such as nature, safety, and health.
Jérôme Devouge, the founder of ‘Dream City,’ explains that the ranking system originated as a personal project with his wife, as they sought a suitable city to relocate from Paris. Over time, ‘Dream City’ evolved into a valuable resource, offering rankings annually. Each city’s overall score is influenced by a variety of factors, including air quality, traffic congestion, and education metrics. Quality of life carries the most weight at 13.4%, while economy and work account for 6.7%. Notably, higher education has a minimal impact, contributing only 0.8% to the final score.
While the methodology aims for objectivity by relying on verifiable public data, the ranking system has its limitations. Users are encouraged to personalize their rankings based on individual priorities, such as access to cultural venues or high-speed internet. This flexibility allows people to find their ‘ideal city’ according to personal preferences.
Future enhancements are expected, particularly in areas with insufficient data. Cities in overseas territories often face this issue, prompting the site’s creators to exclude them from rankings if data is lacking. Local officials sometimes express dissatisfaction with their city’s scores, citing concerns about the fairness of certain categories. This reaction is understandable, as discrepancies can arise between local initiatives and how they are reflected in public data, as noted by Devouge.
Do you have any questions or concerns about the reliability of this information? Feel free to reach out to us via email or connect with us on Twitter for more insights.