Lorraine Williamson
When the pandemic forced the world to stop, millions reconsidered what truly mattered: health, nature, family, and a slower pace of life. That global pause sent ripples far beyond the major capitals. In Spain, it led to an unexpected transformation of a tiny mountain village near Alicante.
Aigües, with fewer than 1,200 residents, now ranks as the richest village in the Comunidad Valenciana. The Spanish tax office places its average gross annual income at €60,883 — higher than anywhere else in the region, and even eighth in Spain overall. Yet money is not what visitors first notice here. What strikes them is the sense of calm, fresh mountain air, and a community that values solidarity as much as statistics.
Pandemic lessons: quality of life above all
The COVID years were a catalyst. Across Europe, people in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Switzerland began rethinking where and how they wanted to live. Crowded cities with long commutes and high stress gave way to a desire for space, cleaner air, and stronger social bonds.
For many, Aigües ticked every box: sea views from the hillside, mild winters, a close-knit community, and a history of wellness dating back to when it hosted a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Once a place for recovery, it is now a refuge for those prioritising health and balance.
Newcomers shaping a small village
Because Aigües is so small, even the arrival of a few affluent households dramatically affects its statistics. Many of the newcomers are Dutch, often retirees with solid pensions or income from real estate. Some invest in local businesses — from guesthouses to restaurants — while others simply enjoy the silence, the hiking trails, and the chance to live without frills.
For young families, the village offers security and space to grow. The school roll has swelled, and new initiatives are creating jobs. In the words of Mayor Emilio Solbes, the real wealth lies not in euros but in the balance between peace, nature, and connection.
More than numbers: the meaning of wealth
Economists point out that Aigües is something of a statistical anomaly, shaped by inheritance money and property sales as much as pensions. But to residents, the data tells only part of the story. The true riches are found in the landscape, in the slower rhythm of daily life, and in a community where neighbours still stop to chat in the square.
As one Dutch resident who arrived six years ago puts it: “I really feel at home here.”
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A blueprint for post-pandemic living?
The story of Aigües reflects a broader trend across Spain and Europe: a move away from metropolitan prestige towards rural quality of life. For some, the pandemic closed one chapter. For others, it opened the door to a simpler, healthier future.
In Aigües, that future is already here — a mountain village once known for healing, now quietly redefining what it means to be rich.
Source: El Debate