"Where is life best?" is one of the most-searched questions by Italians thinking of moving. The answer is not a single number: quality of life weaves together income, air quality, access to services, safety and demographic dynamism. DatiItalia combines these into a composite index for every municipality.
The picture defies clichés. It is not always the big metropolises that win: medium-sized cities of the North-East and Centre often offer the best balance of opportunity and liveability.
The ranking
Top 15 municipalities by quality of life
DatiItalia composite index (0-100): income, environment, services and demographics
The wealth / air trade-off
One pattern dominates Italian data: wealthier municipalities tend to have worse air. Wealth concentrates in the Po Valley, also Europe's most polluted area. Each bubble is a municipality: further right = wealthier, higher = more soil consumed.
Income vs soil consumption
Each bubble is a municipality. X = average income, Y = soil consumption (%), size = population.
Where income concentrates
The average-income map shows the structural North-South divide, but also pockets of wealth along the coasts and in the art cities.
Average income map by municipality
Average declared income — zoom to explore
There is no perfect town: life is best where your own mix of priorities — work, clean air, services, cost of living — finds its best balance. Use the Quality of life section to filter by region and the Compare section to weigh the towns you are considering.