The best (and worst) arrondissements in Paris… according to Parisians!

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Useful for French people looking for a new life or a pied-à-terre, the villeidéale.fr website allows a city’s residents to rate it based on very specific criteria. Among the many surveys and studies, this barometer—though by no means official—may be the most authentic way to assess the quality of life in French cities. As for the capital, every arrondissement gets its own little review! So, what do Parisians think of their neighborhoods?

Parisians’ Favorite Arrondissements

Seeing Paris through the eyes of its residents is certainly the best way to determine where it’s good (or not so good) to live within the capital. “Ville Idéale” gathers residents’ opinions based on nine well-defined characteristics. Culture, transportation, the environment, safety, health, and many others—everything is taken into account! These criteria are then used to calculate a score out of 10, intended to provide an indication of a district’s overall quality of life.

Paris district rankings

A cultural hub, rich in shops, and well-connected by public transit, the 3rd arrondissementseems to be a favorite among its residents. With a score of 8.25/10, it tops the city’s “best districts” ranking. In contrast, the 10th district—which scores poorly in environmental and safety categories—seems to be unpopular with its residents, as it doesn’t even reach a score of 5.

There are also a few surprises in this ranking. For example, the 18th arrondissement, though polarizing, received a very low score of 5.12 out of 10 and ranked 19th, even though it is home to some very charming neighborhoods (Montmartre, Jules Joffrin, Lamarck). The same is true for the 4th arrondissement (which came in 18th place), even though it is highly popular. In contrast, the Haut-Marais is in high demand, as are the Latin Quarter and the Golden Triangle, whose respective arrondissements made it onto the podium.

Above all, these rankings reveal just how much divergent perceptions shape the soul of a city. The same arrondissement may be considered “better” by its residents for its neighborhood life, yet criticized by others for its cost of living or noise levels.

The complete rankings:

1. 1. The 3rd arrondissement: 8.25/10
   2. The 5th arrondissement: 8.03/10
   3. The 8th arrondissement: 7.6/10
   4. The 12th arrondissement: 7.56/10
   5. The 6th arrondissement: 7.54/10
   6. The 16th arrondissement: 7.5/10
   7. The 15th arrondissement: 7.41/10
   8. The 9th arrondissement: 7.38/10
   9. The 7th arrondissement: 7.31/10
   10. The 17th arrondissement: 7.17/10
   11. The 11th arrondissement: 6.9/10
   12. The 1st arrondissement: 6.58/10
   13. The 13th arrondissement: 6.57/10
   14. The 20th arrondissement: 6.32/10
   15. The 19th arrondissement: 6.21/10
   16. The 14th arrondissement: 6.15/10
   17. The 2nd arrondissement: 6.06/10
   18. The 4th arrondissement of Paris: 5.89/10
   19. The 18th arrondissement of Paris: 5.12/10
   20. The 10th arrondissement of Paris: 4.94/10

The main merit of this type of ranking is that it sparks discussion. Because in Paris, an arrondissement can never truly be summed up by a single score: two streets can sometimes feel like they’re in two different cities. The 10th arrondissement, which ranks last, for example, has some very popular areas around the Canal Saint-Martin, while the 18th arrondissement is as divisive as it is appealing, with lively neighborhoods, views of the city, and areas where daily life can be more challenging. Ultimately, that’s also what makes Paris so difficult to rank.

And you—what rating would you give your neighborhood?