• A study by INSEE published on Thursday looks at the departures of Ile-de-France residents from the capital to provincial towns.

  • Some cities are particularly popular with these Parisians, and we let you discover which ones.

  • Moves which are not without consequences, in particular on the differences in life with their new neighbors.

In 2018, nearly 101,000 fled the capital, the equivalent of a city like Boulogne-Billancourt.

Where are all these Parisians going who leave the City of Light?

In a study conducted in particular by François Dubujet, head of demographic and social studies at Insee Île-de-France, the moves of Parisians in 2018 came under the magnifying glass... and brought down certain fantasies surrounding this very real phenomenon.

Thus, according to this study, the majority of Parisians who leave the capital settle in Lyon, all age categories combined.

Toulouse occupies second place in the hearts of these Parisians exasperated by the capital, followed by Nantes, Bordeaux and Marseille.

These Ile-de-France residents are mostly couples or single people and are under 45 years old.

However, this podium changes slightly for the oldest Parisians.

Those between 40 and 59 years old overwhelmingly favor Marseille, while those over 60 years old opt for a retirement in the sun in Nice.

Significant differences in life

It is enough to study the characteristics of their homes to understand that the good weather in Marseilles or the good restaurants in Lyon are not the only motivation of these Ile-de-France residents.

Indeed, if 30% of them lived in a house before moving, 46% make this choice once they arrive in the provinces.

With a significant gain in space: the living area of ​​their residence increases from 62 m² to 86 m² on average.

Moves that are not without consequences.

If Parisians only have Parisians in name once they have settled in Lyon, Nantes or Bordeaux, they still have their wallets.

And it is rather well stocked, since these former Ile-de-France residents leaving for the province enjoy a higher standard of living than those who remain, with a median income of 2,230 euros, against 2,050 euros.

However, according to INSEE, these former Ile-de-France residents thus have on average a 15% higher standard of living than the provincials of the same age with whom they meet when they settle.

These gaps are widening in some cities, according to François Dubujet, since it is 18% in Marseille, 27% in Lyon and even 33% in Nantes.

The phenomenon of exodus of Parisians to the provinces does not seem to have experienced the crisis since the health crisis, quite the contrary.

While the study relates to data prior to the pandemic, which is still too recent for the institute to have consolidated data, INSEE has noted increased mobility for primary school students in Île-de-France.

The region thus counted four students leaving for one entering in 2021, against two leaving for one entering in 2019.

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  • Company

  • Paris

  • Ile-de-France

  • Marseilles

  • Paca

  • Lyons

  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

  • Insee

  • Move

  • Demography