In France, mayors are the elected officials who inspire the greatest public trust, particularly in a context of national political instability that weakens policy continuity. As the 2026 municipal elections approach, local elected officials are increasingly seen as the guarantors of coherent, pragmatic, and sustainable public action.
To better understand parents’ expectations, Dynamiques Familiales commissioned IFOP to conduct a survey of 1,000 parents of minor children. The study examines their satisfaction with municipal services, their priorities for family well-being, and the conditions that would support their desire to have (or expand) a family.
Overall satisfaction with life in one’s municipality remains high. However, opinions on the recent evolution of municipal family services are mixed: 43% of parents see them as stable, 37% as improving, and 12% as deteriorating. Recreational services (culture, sports, leisure, and environmental quality) are perceived as improving more than essential services. While about one-third report better access to leisure activities and a healthier, more ecological living environment, significant shares report declining access to healthcare (22%), affordable housing (21%), and public safety (19%).
The study highlights the growing importance of a healthy and ecological living environment as a key factor in attracting families. Consistent with broader national surveys, families primarily assess municipalities based on quality of life, safety, and access to healthcare. Urban attractiveness for families is driven above all by the quality of the school environment, a healthy and ecological setting, access to healthcare, and access to cultural, sports, and leisure activities. Socio-demographic differences are limited, although higher-income groups place greater importance on environmental quality.
The report concludes that investing in families is not merely a cost but a strategic choice for the vitality and attractiveness of local territories. Even with constrained resources, well-designed family policies can generate high collective value at relatively low cost. Investment in families helps sustain schools, revitalize local commerce, strengthen civil society, and reinforce social cohesion. These benefits extend beyond families themselves, contributing to the economic, demographic, and social resilience of municipalities and the country as a whole.
As key actors of proximity, mayors and local officials play a decisive role in improving families’ quality of life—an essential condition for realizing family and childbearing aspirations. By coordinating family-focused initiatives, they can ensure policy coherence and embed family policies within long-term territorial strategies. This is also electorally significant: nearly eight in ten parents plan to vote in the next municipal elections, and seven in ten say that the priority given to families in local programs will influence their vote.
[Observatoire des Dynamiques Familiales Association (ed.), Familles & Municipales 2026: Attentes, Priorités & Propositions, Paris, November 2025.]
