In recent years, several cities in the country have been a hit with the French and have seen a massive influx of new residents, such as Bordeaux or Lyon. Another very popular city: Nantes. But the honeymoon is over for the city of Loire-Atlantique… Where do we settle down most?
For a decade, from 2014 to 2024, the city of Nantes was one of those which saw its population increase the most: almost 30,000 additional inhabitants over this period according to INSEE figures. It had solid assets up its sleeve: more affordable prices for buying housing, proximity to the ocean, a train station that connects the capital in 2 hours when you do a part-time job. remote… Yes, but there you have it, everything suggests that it is experiencing a slowdown today.
Indeed, recent data indicates a drop in moves to Nantes, according to the results of the study carried out by Drivalia. The rental, leasing and mobility company of CA Auto Bank, analyzed internal data from its own one-way utility vehicle rental service Rent and Drop, usually popular for moving, over the period from March 1 to May 15, 2025. The results of these last months, coupled with a comparison with 2024, are clear: Nantes is no longer even in the top 10.
The city, which is experiencing serious insecurity problems (25% increase in drug trafficking, 64 episodes of shootings and shootings last year, 14% increase in vehicle thefts, etc.) and has been drowned by a massive influx of Ile-de-France residents in recent years, therefore no longer even appears in the top of society. “The same goes for Rennes and Aix-en-Provence“, specifies the study which also highlights the disappearance of Marseille, despite being 7th last year…
But then where have the French moved in recent months? Bordeaux occupies 3rd place on the podium and is overtaken by another very popular city, especially among Parisians looking for larger and cheaper accommodation than in the capital, namely Lyon. And, surprise, while we hear that the City of Lights loses inhabitants every year, it still takes first place in this study. It is therefore in Paris that we still move the most these days!
Public transport packed with people, traffic jams, crazy rent prices and daily incivility have not got the better of the attractiveness of the capital which has, to date, just over 2 million inhabitants. It must be said that Paris also gives plenty of reasons to want to live there: the professional opportunities, the great schools, the cultural offerings and even its dynamic life make the hearts of Parisians beat.
