User Question 13:

Not sure I want to live there again. How do the crime rates (burglary, assault, etc) compare between SW France, N Portugal and SW England. How happy are people in those areas

Claude's Response:

Based on the data, here's how the three regions compare on crime and happiness:

Crime Rates - Portugal Wins Clearly:

Portugal has generally low crime rates, and most crimes are non-violent. Looking at the comparative data, Portugal consistently ranks as one of Europe's safest countries.

Southwest France: Some French departments have very low burglary rates (as low as 2.35 per 1,000 inhabitants in rural areas like Manche and Côtes-d'Armor), but overall France has a crime index of 55.3, which is moderate.

Southwest England: UK crime rates have increased by 0.30% recently, and rural southwestern areas like Devon and Cornwall generally have lower crime than urban centers, but still higher than rural Portugal.

Rankings: Portugal (lowest crime) > Rural SW France > SW England

Happiness & Life Satisfaction - More Complex:

The happiness data reveals interesting patterns:

Portuguese people gave life satisfaction a 5.8 grade on average, lower than the OECD average of 6.7, which is surprisingly low despite the quality of life benefits.

Europeans average 7.3 out of 10 for life satisfaction, with western EU parts and Nordic countries scoring higher. In 2023, countries like Austria, Belgium scored 7.7 out of 10.

However, Portugal ranks 12th globally in the Quality of Life Index, suggesting the infrastructure and living conditions are excellent even if self-reported happiness is moderate.

The Reality:

• Portugal: Safest, excellent quality of life infrastructure, but locals report moderate happiness levels (possibly due to economic concerns)
• Southwest France: Moderate safety, high cultural satisfaction, good work-life balance
• Southwest England: Higher crime than the others, but familiar systems and culture

For Expats Specifically: Your experience might differ significantly from locals. Many expats in Portugal report higher satisfaction than the national average because they're comparing to their previous situations, have financial security, and chose to be there.

Given your priorities (safety, healthcare, climate, cost), Portugal still seems optimal - the crime advantage is significant, and expat happiness often exceeds local averages.