#1Sailly-sur-la-Lys
3,981 peopleScore 74.4·#79 of 3,798 French towns
Strongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: walkability C+
Sailly-sur-la-Lys, #1 on this list · Photo: Pierre André Leclercq (CC BY 4.0)Pas-de-Calais · 2026
Best places to live in Pas-de-Calais
Sailly-sur-la-Lys ranks first of 120 ranked towns of 2,500 or more in Pas-de-Calais, and #79 of 3,798 French towns. 6 of the 120 grade A− or better; scores run from 74.4 down to 22.1.
The overall score, sorted within the département; the letter compares each town with every French town of 2,500+, and its rank among French towns sits beside it. How grades work
#1A+
#2Anzin-Saint-Aubin
2,833 peopleScore 65.0·#442 of 3,798 French towns
Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
#3Laventie
5,044 peopleScore 64.6·#465 of 3,798 French towns
Strongest: schools A, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C+
All 120 towns, ranked
By overall score against French towns; ranks are within the département, and each French rank links to the national list.
120 towns
#TownScoreGrade · French rankWhat drives it
1Sailly-sur-la-Lys3,981 people74.4top 2.1%A+#79 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: walkability C+
2Anzin-Saint-Aubin2,833 people65.0top 11.6%A#442 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
3Laventie5,044 people64.6top 12.2%A#465 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C+
4Lumbres3,579 people60.9top 18.7%A−#710 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
5Sainte-Catherine3,471 people60.8top 18.9%A−#717 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A·lowest: health C
6Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem5,843 people59.4top 22.0%A−#836 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, safety A−·lowest: health C+
7Lestrem5,009 people57.3top 26.9%B+#1,021 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
8Vitry-en-Artois4,849 people56.7top 28.3%B+#1,076 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: health C−
9Biache-Saint-Vaast4,568 people55.2top 31.7%B+#1,205 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety B+·lowest: health D−
10Desvres4,829 people55.1top 31.8%B+#1,207 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, walkability A·lowest: health D
11Violaines3,839 people54.3top 34.1%B+#1,296 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A, walkability A−·lowest: health D−
12Samer4,704 people53.3top 36.9%B#1,403 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: health D−
13Billy-Berclau5,093 people53.2top 37.3%B#1,417 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: health D−
14Richebourg2,687 people53.1top 37.4%B#1,420 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A−·lowest: walkability C−
15Ardres4,389 people52.8top 38.4%B#1,459 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety A−·lowest: health D−
16Souchez2,663 people52.5top 39.6%B#1,504 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, health A−·lowest: schools C−
17Wizernes3,321 people52.1top 40.5%B#1,538 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: health D−
18Dainville5,683 people51.6top 42.2%B#1,603 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A·lowest: health D
19Audruicq5,309 people50.7top 44.6%B#1,693 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
20Wimereux6,256 people50.6top 44.7%B#1,698 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
21Burbure2,834 people50.6top 44.9%B#1,706 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
22Frévent3,259 people49.4top 48.2%B−#1,830 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, cost of living A·lowest: safety D
23Lapugnoy3,481 people49.0top 49.5%B−#1,880 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D−
24Cucq5,129 people48.4bottom 48.8%B−#1,945 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety B+·lowest: cost of living D
25Verquin3,445 people47.7bottom 47.1%B−#2,010 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety B+, walkability B·lowest: health D
26Brebières5,283 people47.7bottom 47.0%B−#2,014 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, walkability B·lowest: health D
27Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise4,677 people47.5bottom 46.4%B−#2,036 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B+·lowest: safety D−
28Saint-Venant2,999 people47.3bottom 45.5%B−#2,070 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, schools B·lowest: health D−
29Cauchy-à-la-Tour2,593 people47.1bottom 45.2%B−#2,081 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D−
30Coulogne5,438 people46.9bottom 44.4%C+#2,113 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
31Marquise5,217 people46.7bottom 44.0%C+#2,128 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, walkability A−·lowest: health D−
32Haisnes4,396 people46.6bottom 43.7%C+#2,137 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, safety A−·lowest: health D−
33Saint-Étienne-au-Mont5,029 people46.5bottom 43.6%C+#2,141 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, schools A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
34Le Touquet-Paris-Plage4,224 people46.0bottom 42.1%C+#2,199 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D−
35Blendecques4,859 people46.0bottom 42.0%C+#2,203 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, walkability B·lowest: health D
36Aire-sur-la-Lys9,598 people45.0bottom 39.3%C+#2,304 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
37Auxi-le-Château2,547 people44.9bottom 39.1%C+#2,312 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
38Beaurains5,559 people44.6bottom 38.5%C+#2,337 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B+·lowest: health C−
39Isbergues8,650 people43.9bottom 36.7%C+#2,405 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: health D
40Guînes5,479 people43.7bottom 36.0%C+#2,430 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
41Douvrin5,867 people43.6bottom 35.9%C+#2,436 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B+·lowest: health D−
42Drocourt2,939 people43.5bottom 35.7%C+#2,443 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: health A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
43Oye-Plage5,780 people43.3bottom 35.4%C+#2,453 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
44Meurchin3,691 people43.1bottom 34.9%C#2,472 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, safety A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
45Wimille3,866 people43.0bottom 34.4%C#2,490 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
46Leforest7,060 people42.0bottom 32.3%C#2,573 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
47Sangatte4,668 people41.8bottom 31.7%C#2,593 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
48Auchel10,051 people41.4bottom 30.9%C#2,624 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools A−·lowest: health D−
49Vermelles4,729 people41.3bottom 30.6%C#2,635 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
50Marck10,467 people41.1bottom 30.3%C#2,648 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
51Neufchâtel-Hardelot4,115 people41.0bottom 29.7%C#2,669 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety B+, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living D−
52Hersin-Coupigny6,082 people41.0bottom 29.7%C#2,671 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety B+, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
53Saint-Laurent-Blangy6,459 people40.8bottom 29.4%C#2,681 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: health D
54Hesdin-la-Forêt4,480 people40.5bottom 28.3%C#2,725 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health A−·lowest: safety D−
55Saint-Martin-Boulogne10,888 people40.3bottom 27.6%C#2,751 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools A·lowest: health C−
56Achicourt7,873 people40.3bottom 27.4%C#2,756 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: jobs & income D
57Étaples10,710 people40.1bottom 27.0%C#2,771 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, walkability A·lowest: health D
58Annezin5,825 people39.8bottom 26.5%C#2,790 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B·lowest: health D−
59Saint-Nicolas4,494 people39.5bottom 25.9%C#2,816 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: jobs & income D
60Calonne-Ricouart5,369 people39.2bottom 25.0%C#2,849 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
61Marles-les-Mines5,411 people39.2bottom 24.9%C−#2,852 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D−
62Lillers10,193 people39.1bottom 24.7%C−#2,859 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
63Arques9,431 people39.1bottom 24.6%C−#2,865 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools B+, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
64Outreau13,138 people38.3bottom 22.7%C−#2,936 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools A−·lowest: health D−
65Saint-Omer14,382 people38.3bottom 22.4%C−#2,948 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A−·lowest: safety D−
66Pont-à-Vendin3,062 people38.0bottom 21.8%C−#2,969 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D−
67Auchy-les-Mines4,625 people37.6bottom 21.3%C−#2,988 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B+·lowest: health D−
68Boulogne-sur-Mer40,539 people36.8bottom 19.5%C−#3,056 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A·lowest: safety D−
69Arras42,875 people35.6bottom 17.0%C−#3,154 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools B+·lowest: safety D
70Camiers2,582 people35.4bottom 16.7%C−#3,163 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability C+·lowest: health D
71Éleu-dit-Leauwette2,805 people35.2bottom 15.9%C−#3,193 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, safety B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
72Oignies10,323 people35.1bottom 15.9%C−#3,194 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
73Longuenesse10,548 people35.1bottom 15.9%C−#3,196 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools A−·lowest: health D
74Houdain6,945 people34.9bottom 15.4%C−#3,215 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D−
75Bapaume3,779 people34.7bottom 14.9%D#3,231 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B+·lowest: safety D−
76Le Portel8,768 people34.5bottom 14.7%D#3,241 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools A−·lowest: health D−
77Carvin17,909 people34.3bottom 14.5%D#3,249 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D
78Vendin-le-Vieil8,536 people34.2bottom 14.2%D#3,258 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B·lowest: health D
79Coquelles2,638 people34.0bottom 14.0%D#3,268 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, walkability B+·lowest: safety D
80Beuvry9,189 people34.0bottom 13.9%D#3,272 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B, schools B·lowest: health D−
81Aix-Noulette3,902 people33.5bottom 13.1%D#3,302 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety B−, jobs & income C+·lowest: health C−
82Béthune25,224 people33.3bottom 12.8%D#3,311 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B·lowest: safety D−
83Angres4,641 people33.3bottom 12.8%D#3,313 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, safety B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
84Libercourt7,973 people33.3bottom 12.7%D#3,315 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B+·lowest: health D−
85Bruay-la-Buissière21,424 people33.2bottom 12.6%D#3,319 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B·lowest: health D
86Sains-en-Gohelle5,948 people33.1bottom 12.1%D#3,339 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B−·lowest: health D−
87Annay4,571 people33.0bottom 11.9%D#3,346 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
88Montigny-en-Gohelle9,743 people32.7bottom 11.5%D#3,362 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
89Divion6,766 people31.8bottom 10.1%D#3,415 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D−
90Vimy4,270 people31.7bottom 10.0%D#3,418 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: safety B, jobs & income B−·lowest: schools D−
91Bully-les-Mines12,146 people31.6bottom 10.0%D#3,420 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D−
92Haillicourt5,064 people31.4bottom 9.5%D#3,439 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D−
93Courrières10,176 people31.2bottom 9.2%D#3,448 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D
94Rang-du-Fliers4,297 people31.1bottom 9.1%D#3,453 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, walkability C+·lowest: health D−
95Évin-Malmaison4,628 people30.9bottom 8.8%D#3,464 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
96Calais67,571 people30.4bottom 8.1%D#3,490 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B·lowest: safety D−
97Dourges6,139 people30.0bottom 7.7%D#3,507 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, schools C+·lowest: health D−
98Hulluch3,371 people29.7bottom 7.3%D#3,520 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
99Nœux-les-Mines11,590 people28.5bottom 5.5%D#3,589 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
100Mazingarbe8,217 people28.4bottom 5.3%D#3,596 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B, schools B−·lowest: health D−
101Fouquières-lès-Lens6,087 people28.4bottom 5.3%D#3,598 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
102Merlimont3,342 people28.2bottom 5.1%D#3,606 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B−, safety C+·lowest: cost of living D
103Wingles8,720 people28.1bottom 4.9%D−#3,612 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
104Barlin7,331 people27.8bottom 4.7%D−#3,619 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
105Loos-en-Gohelle6,799 people27.6bottom 4.4%D−#3,630 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D
106Hénin-Beaumont25,688 people27.3bottom 4.2%D−#3,639 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
107Courcelles-lès-Lens7,830 people27.1bottom 4.0%D−#3,648 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
108Noyelles-Godault5,994 people26.7bottom 3.6%D−#3,661 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools C+·lowest: safety D−
109Noyelles-sous-Lens6,854 people26.7bottom 3.6%D−#3,663 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
110Rouvroy8,552 people26.1bottom 3.0%D−#3,683 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
111Méricourt11,619 people25.6bottom 2.4%D−#3,707 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
112Harnes12,247 people25.5bottom 2.3%D−#3,710 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
113Berck12,951 people25.4bottom 2.2%D−#3,715 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools C+·lowest: safety D−
114Billy-Montigny7,937 people25.3bottom 2.1%D−#3,717 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
115Sallaumines9,414 people25.1bottom 2.0%D−#3,723 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
116Lens32,920 people24.1bottom 1.5%D−#3,741 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D−
117Avion17,435 people23.7bottom 1.3%D−#3,747 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
118Grenay6,644 people23.6bottom 1.3%D−#3,749 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D−
118Liévin30,063 people23.6bottom 1.3%D−#3,749 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
120Loison-sous-Lens5,169 people22.1bottom 0.9%D−#3,765 of 3,798 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best place to live in Pas-de-Calais?
Sailly-sur-la-Lys ranks first of 120 graded towns of 2,500 or more: schools (A) and safety (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (C+) is its lowest. Anzin-Saint-Aubin and Laventie follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends six graded subjects (cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs and income, walkability) from public data, each comparing a town with every French town of 1,000 or more. The rank is among the towns of 2,500 or more in Pas-de-Calais, where five or more have an overall grade.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers places of 2,500 or more with an overall grade. Smaller places, and towns missing figures the overall grade needs, show their grades on their own pages; every commune is listed on the Pas-de-Calais page.
Département by département
Best places to live, département by département
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Photos: Sailly-sur-la-Lys, Pierre André Leclercq (CC BY 4.0) · Anzin-Saint-Aubin, Floflo62 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Laventie, No. 10 Squadron RFC (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking French towns against each other only, run #70 of November 9, 2026. Under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab).
Contains public sector information under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab): INSEE, DGFiP, the Interior Ministry’s statistics service (SSMSI), the Ministry of Education (DEPP), the Health Ministry’s statistics service (DREES) and the Housing Ministry (Carte des loyers). Commune boundaries: IGN Admin Express.