Press kit · department 26

Drôme.

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 19 towns ranked Public data · Licence Ouverte (Etalab)
Cite this page
La Grande Carte, “Press kit — Drôme (26)”, https://lagrandecarte.fr/en/presse/drome-26 (accessed 28 September 2026).
<a href="https://lagrandecarte.fr/en/presse/drome-26">Drôme 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
Chatuzange-le-GoubetSmall cities6,3751 / 1692 / 1747
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,3692 / 16405 / 1747
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1391 / 3167 / 470
ChabeuilSmall cities6,8603 / 16815 / 1747
Saint-Paul-Trois-ChâteauxSmall cities8,7764 / 16836 / 1747
Étoile-sur-RhôneSmall cities5,4975 / 161000 / 1747
Saint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSmall cities6,2146 / 161042 / 1747
Livron-sur-DrômeSmall cities9,2727 / 161043 / 1747
PierrelatteSmall cities13,9098 / 161059 / 1747
Bourg-lès-ValenceSmall cities19,8729 / 161082 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Loriol-sur-DrômeSmall cities6,58416 / 161662 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3563 / 3416 / 470
Bourg-de-PéageSmall cities9,77715 / 161510 / 1747
DonzèreSmall cities5,98114 / 161461 / 1747
ValenceMid-size cities64,2882 / 3388 / 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: 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
NyonsSmall cities6,7941 / 16296 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3561 / 3337 / 470
Chatuzange-le-GoubetSmall cities6,3752 / 161303 / 1747
CrestSmall cities8,7123 / 161309 / 1747
Livron-sur-DrômeSmall cities9,2724 / 161387 / 1747
DonzèreSmall cities5,9815 / 161439 / 1747
PierrelatteSmall cities13,9096 / 161493 / 1747
ValenceMid-size cities64,2882 / 3418 / 470
Saint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSmall cities6,2147 / 161554 / 1747
Loriol-sur-DrômeSmall cities6,5848 / 161574 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Tain-l'HermitageSmall cities5,89016 / 161745 / 1747
Saint-Paul-Trois-ChâteauxSmall cities8,77615 / 161731 / 1747
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,36914 / 161689 / 1747
Étoile-sur-RhôneSmall cities5,49713 / 161682 / 1747
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1393 / 3449 / 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 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
NyonsSmall cities6,7941 / 1617 / 1747
CrestSmall cities8,7122 / 16362 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3561 / 3148 / 470
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,3693 / 16576 / 1747
Tain-l'HermitageSmall cities5,8904 / 16670 / 1747
Bourg-de-PéageSmall cities9,7775 / 16694 / 1747
ValenceMid-size cities64,2882 / 3205 / 470
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1393 / 3244 / 470
Saint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSmall cities6,2146 / 16976 / 1747
PierrelatteSmall cities13,9097 / 161010 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Saint-Rambert-d'AlbonSmall cities6,94716 / 161694 / 1747
Loriol-sur-DrômeSmall cities6,58415 / 161620 / 1747
ChabeuilSmall cities6,86014 / 161389 / 1747
Saint-Paul-Trois-ChâteauxSmall cities8,77613 / 161363 / 1747
DonzèreSmall cities5,98112 / 161334 / 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
Livron-sur-DrômeSmall cities9,2721 / 16446 / 1747
ChabeuilSmall cities6,8602 / 16478 / 1747
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1391 / 3129 / 470
Saint-Paul-Trois-ChâteauxSmall cities8,7763 / 16534 / 1747
ValenceMid-size cities64,2882 / 3172 / 470
NyonsSmall cities6,7944 / 16798 / 1747
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,3695 / 16836 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3563 / 3241 / 470
Bourg-de-PéageSmall cities9,7776 / 16902 / 1747
CrestSmall cities8,7127 / 16960 / 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
DonzèreSmall cities5,9811 / 1654 / 1747
Saint-Rambert-d'AlbonSmall cities6,9472 / 16110 / 1747
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,3693 / 16126 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3561 / 367 / 470
Loriol-sur-DrômeSmall cities6,5844 / 16270 / 1747
Saint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSmall cities6,2145 / 16364 / 1747
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1392 / 3127 / 470
ValenceMid-size cities64,2883 / 3136 / 470
PierrelatteSmall cities13,9096 / 16573 / 1747
Étoile-sur-RhôneSmall cities5,4977 / 16579 / 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
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1391 / 3129 / 470
NyonsSmall cities6,7941 / 16500 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3562 / 3146 / 470
ValenceMid-size cities64,2883 / 3165 / 470
Saint-Marcel-lès-ValenceSmall cities6,2142 / 16654 / 1747
Chatuzange-le-GoubetSmall cities6,3753 / 16728 / 1747
Livron-sur-DrômeSmall cities9,2724 / 16752 / 1747
Étoile-sur-RhôneSmall cities5,4975 / 16833 / 1747
ChabeuilSmall cities6,8606 / 16894 / 1747
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,3697 / 16896 / 1747

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
DonzèreSmall cities5,98116 / 161504 / 1747
Saint-Rambert-d'AlbonSmall cities6,94715 / 161457 / 1747
Loriol-sur-DrômeSmall cities6,58414 / 161354 / 1747
Bourg-lès-ValenceSmall cities19,87213 / 161338 / 1747
Bourg-de-PéageSmall cities9,77712 / 161226 / 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 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
DonzèreSmall cities5,9811 / 1651 / 1747
Saint-Paul-Trois-ChâteauxSmall cities8,7762 / 16114 / 1747
NyonsSmall cities6,7943 / 16125 / 1747
Bourg-de-PéageSmall cities9,7774 / 16262 / 1747
Portes-lès-ValenceSmall cities10,3695 / 16352 / 1747
Étoile-sur-RhôneSmall cities5,4976 / 16384 / 1747
ChabeuilSmall cities6,8607 / 16579 / 1747
ValenceMid-size cities64,2881 / 3213 / 470
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3562 / 3238 / 470
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1393 / 3243 / 470

Lowest-ranked in the department

TownSize tierPopulationRank in its tier · DepartmentRank in its tier · France
Loriol-sur-DrômeSmall cities6,58416 / 161611 / 1747
CrestSmall cities8,71215 / 161411 / 1747
Chatuzange-le-GoubetSmall cities6,37514 / 161302 / 1747
Saint-Rambert-d'AlbonSmall cities6,94713 / 161250 / 1747
Tain-l'HermitageSmall cities5,89012 / 161199 / 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
NyonsSmall cities6,7941 / 16166 / 1747
MontélimarMid-size cities40,3561 / 382 / 470
Livron-sur-DrômeSmall cities9,2722 / 16392 / 1747
DonzèreSmall cities5,9813 / 16599 / 1747
CrestSmall cities8,7124 / 16713 / 1747
Saint-Paul-Trois-ChâteauxSmall cities8,7765 / 16991 / 1747
Romans-sur-IsèreMid-size cities33,1392 / 3283 / 470
ChabeuilSmall cities6,8606 / 161052 / 1747
Chatuzange-le-GoubetSmall cities6,3757 / 161099 / 1747
Étoile-sur-RhôneSmall cities5,4978 / 161107 / 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.