The aim of the study is to present a methodology and an instrument to study cities through a case study undertaken in the county of Aveiro, in Portugal. More specifically, it is to establish a typology of social areas, via the concerns that define quality of life. The data are from 1991 (the last published census), collected by INE (National Agency of Statistic), and desegregated for sub-sections (each subsection has about 300 inhabitants). Seven indicators were chosen, submitted to principal component analysis, and 4 factors were extracted: socio-professional status, ageing of population and buildings, accommodation capacity and precarious housing conditions. The cluster analysis permitted the identification, within each factor group, of subsections with different quality of life: high-medium, medium, low-medium and low. 241 vices, adequate shelter and an environment in which they can flourish.The world is becoming increasingly urbanized, and the reality of an urban habitat indicates a universal need to become familiar with the methods of governance and management appropriate to urban societies. Urban agglomeration is usually associated with social problems, such as drug addiction, poverty, delinquency, stress, homelessness, which makes this an important topic for local planners and policy makers. As cities are now contexts of high demographic concentration and development, where problems, policies and social change need to be studied, it is necessary to develop social indicators, in order to support planners, policy makers and professionals and to thereby promote the implementation of appropriate urban policies.Cities are areas with internal differentiation,
