Press kit · department 17

Charente-Maritime.

Every town in the department ranked on each criterion, ready to be reused. Each town is compared with French towns of the same size tier — a market town is never measured against a major city. Free to reuse, including commercially, on the sole condition that you credit La Grande Carte with a link to this page.

8 rankings 20 towns ranked Public data · Licence Ouverte (Etalab)
Cite this page
La Grande Carte, “Press kit — Charente-Maritime (17)”, https://lagrandecarte.fr/en/presse/charente-maritime-17 (accessed 15 November 2026).
<a href="https://lagrandecarte.fr/en/presse/charente-maritime-17">Charente-Maritime press kit — La Grande Carte</a>
01.

Safest cities.

Low crime, rare assaults, few burglaries, downward trend — data from the French Ministry of Interior

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Nieul-sur-MerSmall cities5,8051 / 172 / 1747
Saint-XandreSmall cities5,5312 / 1769 / 1747
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,0163 / 17128 / 1747
Dompierre-sur-MerSmall cities6,0844 / 17279 / 1747
LagordSmall cities7,5945 / 17487 / 1747
Châtelaillon-PlageSmall cities6,4406 / 17531 / 1747
AytréSmall cities9,7597 / 17550 / 1747
PérignySmall cities8,8028 / 17759 / 1747
SaujonSmall cities7,3149 / 17849 / 1747
MarennesSmall cities6,14810 / 171054 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Saint-Jean-d'AngélySmall cities6,67917 / 171725 / 1747
SurgèresSmall cities6,86116 / 171710 / 1747
Saint-Pierre-d'OléronSmall cities6,66515 / 171627 / 1747
SaintesMid-size cities25,3123 / 3432 / 470
RoyanSmall cities19,32214 / 171590 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Safest cities.

02.

Best environmental quality.

Compliant drinking water, far from nuclear plants, low radon, low seismic risk, balanced soils, no major hazard

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Dompierre-sur-MerSmall cities6,0841 / 17152 / 1747
Tonnay-CharenteSmall cities8,2482 / 17175 / 1747
Saint-Jean-d'AngélySmall cities6,6793 / 17226 / 1747
AytréSmall cities9,7594 / 17233 / 1747
PérignySmall cities8,8025 / 17239 / 1747
RochelleMid-size cities79,9611 / 372 / 470
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,0166 / 17383 / 1747
MarennesSmall cities6,1487 / 17444 / 1747
Saint-XandreSmall cities5,5318 / 17453 / 1747
SaintesMid-size cities25,3122 / 3124 / 470

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
SaujonSmall cities7,31417 / 17945 / 1747
Saint-Pierre-d'OléronSmall cities6,66516 / 17835 / 1747
PuilboreauSmall cities6,66815 / 17606 / 1747
Saint-Georges-de-DidonneSmall cities5,09314 / 17600 / 1747
Nieul-sur-MerSmall cities5,80513 / 17575 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Best environmental quality.

03.

Best cities for health.

Access to GPs (APL), hospitals and specialists, drinking water quality, radon and nuclear exposure

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
SaintesMid-size cities25,3121 / 34 / 470
RochefortMid-size cities23,1882 / 311 / 470
Saint-Jean-d'AngélySmall cities6,6791 / 1742 / 1747
PuilboreauSmall cities6,6682 / 1744 / 1747
MarennesSmall cities6,1483 / 1764 / 1747
LagordSmall cities7,5944 / 1765 / 1747
AytréSmall cities9,7595 / 1790 / 1747
RoyanSmall cities19,3226 / 17140 / 1747
Saint-Georges-de-DidonneSmall cities5,0937 / 17141 / 1747
Dompierre-sur-MerSmall cities6,0848 / 17276 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Saint-XandreSmall cities5,53117 / 17822 / 1747
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,01616 / 17749 / 1747
Châtelaillon-PlageSmall cities6,44015 / 17678 / 1747
SaujonSmall cities7,31414 / 17600 / 1747
Nieul-sur-MerSmall cities5,80513 / 17581 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Best cities for health.

04.

Best cities for families.

Schools and nurseries, safety, doctors, sport and culture, shops, fibre internet — everything to raise kids well

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Dompierre-sur-MerSmall cities6,0841 / 1762 / 1747
AytréSmall cities9,7592 / 17126 / 1747
LagordSmall cities7,5943 / 17130 / 1747
SaintesMid-size cities25,3121 / 344 / 470
Châtelaillon-PlageSmall cities6,4404 / 17173 / 1747
RochelleMid-size cities79,9612 / 368 / 470
Saint-Jean-d'AngélySmall cities6,6795 / 17270 / 1747
RochefortMid-size cities23,1883 / 384 / 470
MarennesSmall cities6,1486 / 17318 / 1747
SurgèresSmall cities6,8617 / 17487 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Best cities for families.

05.

Most dynamic cities.

Growing population, rising incomes, falling unemployment, strong municipal investment, recent housing

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,0161 / 1762 / 1747
AytréSmall cities9,7592 / 1768 / 1747
PérignySmall cities8,8023 / 17135 / 1747
RochelleMid-size cities79,9611 / 342 / 470
Tonnay-CharenteSmall cities8,2484 / 17329 / 1747
Châtelaillon-PlageSmall cities6,4405 / 17412 / 1747
PuilboreauSmall cities6,6686 / 17469 / 1747
SaujonSmall cities7,3147 / 17568 / 1747
Saint-Georges-de-DidonneSmall cities5,0938 / 17586 / 1747
SurgèresSmall cities6,8619 / 17589 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Most dynamic cities.

06.

Best quality of life.

Overall synthesis: amenities, safety, doctors, incomes, fibre, nearby nature, healthy water, low unemployment

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
AytréSmall cities9,7591 / 1716 / 1747
Dompierre-sur-MerSmall cities6,0842 / 1718 / 1747
Nieul-sur-MerSmall cities5,8053 / 1729 / 1747
Châtelaillon-PlageSmall cities6,4404 / 1733 / 1747
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,0165 / 1746 / 1747
LagordSmall cities7,5946 / 1763 / 1747
PuilboreauSmall cities6,6687 / 1766 / 1747
Saint-Georges-de-DidonneSmall cities5,0938 / 1797 / 1747
Saint-XandreSmall cities5,5319 / 17123 / 1747
PérignySmall cities8,80210 / 17133 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Saint-Jean-d'AngélySmall cities6,67917 / 17799 / 1747
SurgèresSmall cities6,86116 / 17635 / 1747
Tonnay-CharenteSmall cities8,24815 / 17526 / 1747
SaujonSmall cities7,31414 / 17261 / 1747
SaintesMid-size cities25,3123 / 368 / 470

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Best quality of life.

07.

Best-managed municipalities.

Positive operating balance, controlled debt, strong investment, reasonable property tax rate

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Saint-Georges-de-DidonneSmall cities5,0931 / 1763 / 1747
AytréSmall cities9,7592 / 17163 / 1747
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,0163 / 17237 / 1747
LagordSmall cities7,5944 / 17339 / 1747
Châtelaillon-PlageSmall cities6,4405 / 17340 / 1747
RochefortMid-size cities23,1881 / 3103 / 470
PuilboreauSmall cities6,6686 / 17396 / 1747
SurgèresSmall cities6,8617 / 17442 / 1747
RochelleMid-size cities79,9612 / 3170 / 470
RoyanSmall cities19,3228 / 17675 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
SaintesMid-size cities25,3123 / 3405 / 470
Dompierre-sur-MerSmall cities6,08417 / 171309 / 1747
Nieul-sur-MerSmall cities5,80516 / 171267 / 1747
Saint-Jean-d'AngélySmall cities6,67915 / 171243 / 1747
MarennesSmall cities6,14814 / 171057 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Best-managed municipalities.

08.

Preserved nature & environment.

National parks, nature reserves, Natura 2000, regional parks, far from nuclear, no major risks — preserved France

Top-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Saint-Pierre-d'OléronSmall cities6,6651 / 17115 / 1747
MarennesSmall cities6,1482 / 17181 / 1747
Saint-Georges-de-DidonneSmall cities5,0933 / 17389 / 1747
SaintesMid-size cities25,3121 / 3118 / 470
Tonnay-CharenteSmall cities8,2484 / 17673 / 1747
RochefortMid-size cities23,1882 / 3209 / 470
Sainte-SoulleSmall cities5,0165 / 17809 / 1747
RochelleMid-size cities79,9613 / 3244 / 470
Nieul-sur-MerSmall cities5,8056 / 17964 / 1747
RoyanSmall cities19,3227 / 17983 / 1747

Both tables are sorted by national rank within the size tier, the only measure that is comparable between a small town and a large city. The department rank is read within the same tier: a town that is the only one of its size in the department is therefore automatically ranked 1 of 1.

Full national ranking: Preserved nature & environment.

Method and limits

What these tables say — and what they don’t.

  • Scores are composite: each criterion carries a published weight, shown under each national ranking.
  • Towns are ranked within a population tier (5,000–20,000, 20,000–100,000, over 100,000 inhabitants). Towns under 5,000 inhabitants are not ranked.
  • A town missing the data for a criterion is left out of that ranking, never ranked last by default.
  • This is not a league table of lived quality of life: these figures reflect the public data available, with its blind spots and publication delays.
  • Crime figures are offences recorded by the police and the gendarmerie: they depend on whether victims report them and on how present the services are.

Sources, data years and weightings: About page. A question, a figure that looks wrong to you, a request for a custom breakdown — contact@lagrandecarte.fr.