Vilnius, Kaunas, Neringa, Klaipeda ranked as best Lithuanian municipalities to live in

VILNIUS - The municipalities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Neringa and Klaipeda ensure the best conditions for people living there, a study showed on Monday. 

Based on 2017 official statistics, Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis' municipal welfare index measures Lithuanian municipalities on five criteria: social and physical security, viable economy, quality education and healthy demography.

The cities of Vilnius, Kaunas and Siauliai and Western Lithuanian municipalities perform better in physical security, and Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda top the ranking in terms of social security. 

Vilniaus and Kaunas also offer the best education opportunities, followed by Siauliai, Klaipeda and Panevezys.

"Vilnius is still an exceptional magnet when it comes to economic opportunities and this is where this exclusiveness is the greatest," sociologist Gintaras Sumskas said, referring to the viable economy category, which covers competitiveness, attractiveness for investments, average wages, enterprise numbers and foreign direct investments.

The ten lowest ranked municipalities in the overall index are Zarasai, Lazdijai, Ignalina, Kalvarija, Kelme, Kupiskis, Alytus, Anyksciai, Birzai and Joniskis.