Tips for choosing where to live in France

Life in France is undeniably enticing when considering the country as a whole – however, it is important to bear in mind that each of its administrative regions has a character shaped as much by geography and weather as by culture, tradition and history. 

Selecting where to buy requires careful thought given not only to these factors, but also as to how they impact on areas such the value of the local housing market, the availability of properties, transport links and spread of population (expats included), among others. 

Areas

France has 18 administrative regions: 13 make up mainland France (also known as ‘L’Hexagone’ for its roughly six-sided shape) as outlined in this chapter, while the remaining five are overseas. 

How many Americans live in France and where? What are the trends and why?

The Connexion reported in February 2025 the latest figures from France’s national statistics agency Insee showing that there are more than 30,000 people born in the United States living full-time in France, with around 7,700 residing in Paris within the Île-de-France region. 

Beyond Paris, the spread of US-born populations in descending order include the remaining areas surrounding Paris within Île-de-France (around 6,000), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (3,000), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (2,800), and Occitanie (2,700). 

The number of Americans moving to France has tripled from before the pandemic, with reasons cited for moving to France including safety, affordability and accessibility of the healthcare system (though note that availability of services can vary from region to region), and quality of life.

Communication and transport links

France has a well-developed and extensive transportation network encompassing road, railroad, air, and water transport. Air travel sees most regional capitals served by international air routes, with Nice (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) being the recipient of a new direct flight to Washington DC operated by United Airlines offering easier access to more than 130 American destinations, due to onward routes available from the US capital. 

France's infrastructure is structured with Paris at its center, creating a web-like system. This network facilitates both domestic and international travel, with a strong emphasis on high-speed rail (TGV – Train à Grande Vitesse). The road network includes tolled motorways (autoroutes) and national and departmental roads. 

Budget and buying

Property market reports are published annually by the ‘Notaires de France’, which is the organization representing all notaires (French notaries) in the country. Notaires are public officers appointed by the Minister of Justice, and they play a crucial role in various legal and property transactions, acting as neutral legal experts. They are responsible for authenticating documents, ensuring legal compliance, and handling transactions like property sales, inheritance, and family law matters. Reports can be found on their English-language website. 

In this chapter we look at the fundamental strengths of each of the regions, give you a snapshot of what they offer and show what your budget can buy when it comes to finding your French home.