2026 comparison
Aix-en-Provence vs Clermont-Ferrand: 2026 comparison
Aix-en-Provence has more inhabitants than Clermont-Ferrand: 152,854 versus 148,795, or 2.7% more. Aix-en-Provence covers a larger area (186 km² versus 42.7 km²), but Clermont-Ferrand is more densely populated: 3,487 inhabitants per km² versus 821.
The median apartment price is higher in Aix-en-Provence: €4,797 per m² versus €2,143. The median standard of living is higher in Aix-en-Provence (€29,010 a year versus €22,640).
The two cities are 308 km apart as the crow flies.
Aix-en-Provence
City in Bouches-du-Rhône
FBouches-du-Rhône13Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Population
- 152,854 inhab.
- 22nd in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 186 km²
- Density
- 821 per km²
Clermont-Ferrand
City in Puy-de-Dôme
FPuy-de-Dôme63Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Population
- 148,795 inhab.
- 25th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 42.7 km²
- Density
- 3,487 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Aix-en-ProvenceClermont-Ferrand
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Aix-en-Provence+3% | 152,854 | 148,795 | More populous: Aix-en-Provence+3% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+4.9 pts | +4.6% | −0.3% | Stronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+4.9 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+2.3 pts | +5.8% | +3.5% | Stronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+2.3 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Clermont-Ferrand4.2 times as high | 821 | 3,487 | Denser: Clermont-Ferrand4.2 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Clermont-Ferrand+1.6 pt | 12.8% | 14.4% | More young people: Clermont-Ferrand+1.6 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Aix-en-Provence+3.1 pts | 20.0% | 17.0% | More seniors: Aix-en-Provence+3.1 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Aix-en-Provence+0.08 | 1.84 | 1.76 | Larger households: Aix-en-Provence+0.08 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.2 times as high | 4,797 | 2,143 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.2 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.5 times as high | 6,137 | 2,489 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.5 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Aix-en-Provence+53% | 19.1 | 12.5 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence+53% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Aix-en-Provence+72% | 19.7 | 11.5 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence+72% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Aix-en-Provence+7.5 pts | 39.1% | 31.6% | More homeowners: Aix-en-Provence+7.5 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Aix-en-Provence+3.2 pts | 19.5% | 16.3% | More houses: Aix-en-Provence+3.2 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | 22.0% | — | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Aix-en-Provence+1.6 pt | 7.2% | 5.6% | More second homes: Aix-en-Provence+1.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Clermont-Ferrand+1.6 pt | 8.0% | 9.7% | More vacant homes: Clermont-Ferrand+1.6 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+14 pts | 36.02% | 49.88% | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+14 pts |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Aix-en-Provence+28% | 29,010 | 22,640 | Higher: Aix-en-Provence+28% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Clermont-Ferrand+11 pts | 16.4% | 27.0% | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+11 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Aix-en-Provence+59% | €41,363 | €25,966 | Higher: Aix-en-Provence+59% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Aix-en-Provence+10 pts | 54% | 44% | More taxpaying households: Aix-en-Provence+10 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Aix-en-Provence+2.4 pts | 70.9% | 68.5% | Higher: Aix-en-Provence+2.4 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+4.2 pts | 11.2% | 15.4% | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+4.2 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Sophie Joissains | Julien Bony | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Clermont-Ferrand+1.5 pt | 96% | 97% | Better covered: Clermont-Ferrand+1.5 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Aix-en-Provence+30% | 90.91,390 in total | 70.01,042 in total | More shops per capita: Aix-en-Provence+30% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+39% | 26.5405 in total | 19.1284 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+39% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+19% | 60.1918 in total | 50.5751 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+19% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+3% | 17.1262 in total | 17.7263 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+3% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+20% | 2.132 in total | 1.726 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+20% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+5% | 2.944 in total | 3.045 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+5% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Clermont-Ferrand+1 | 2 | 3 | More stations: Clermont-Ferrand+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Aix-en-Provence+23% | 5.0 | 4.1 | Better access: Aix-en-Provence+23% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+76% | 14.4220 in total | 8.2122 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+76% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+43% | 39.9610 in total | 28.0416 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+43% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+36% | 11.4174 in total | 8.4125 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+36% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+5% | 3.351 in total | 3.552 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+5% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Aix-en-Provence+1 | 17 | 16 | More facilities: Aix-en-Provence+1 |
Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)
Education
Schools and colleges
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Aix-en-Provence+17 | 88 | 71 | More schools: Aix-en-Provence+17 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Aix-en-Provence+4 | 20 | 16 | More middle schools: Aix-en-Provence+4 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Clermont-Ferrand+2 | 21 | 23 | More high schools: Clermont-Ferrand+2 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Aix-en-Provence+13 | 56 | 43 | More facilities: Aix-en-Provence+13 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+10% | 6.2 | 6.9 | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+10% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+9% | 14.6 | 15.9 | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+9% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Tie | 4.3 | 4.3 | Tie |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Aix-en-Provence2.5 times as high | 4.1 | 1.6 | Higher rate: Aix-en-Provence2.5 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+34% | 9.4 | 12.6 | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+34% |
Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)
Climate
Temperature, sunshine and rain
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Aix-en-Provence+2.6 °C | 14.7°C | 12.1°C | Warmer: Aix-en-Provence+2.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Aix-en-Provence+47% | 2,873 | 1,958 | Sunnier: Aix-en-Provence+47% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Aix-en-Provence+8% | 609 | 563 | Wetter: Aix-en-Provence+8% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Clermont-Ferrand+28 days/year | 59 | 87 | More rainy days: Clermont-Ferrand+28 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Clermont-Ferrand+13 days/year | 43 | 56 | More frost days: Clermont-Ferrand+13 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Aix-en-Provence+33 days/year | 55 | 22 | More hot days: Aix-en-Provence+33 days/year |
Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals
Natural hazards
Natural disasters and prevention
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Aix-en-Provence+4 | 28 | 24 | More declarations: Aix-en-Provence+4 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Aix-en-Provence+3 | 4 | 1 | More plans: Aix-en-Provence+3 |
| Radon potential | Low, with aggravating factors | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Aix-en-Provence4.4 times as high | 186 | 42.7 | Larger: Aix-en-Provence4.4 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Clermont-Ferrand+206 m | 198 m | 404 m | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+206 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Bouches-du-Rhône (13) | Puy-de-Dôme (63) | |
| Intercommunality | Métropole d'Aix-Marseille-Provence | Clermont Auvergne Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Marseille-Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand | |
| Functional area | Marseille - Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Aix-en-Provence vs Clermont-Ferrand at a glance
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Clermont-Ferrand |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 152,854 | 148,795 |
| Change over 10 years | +5.8% | +3.5% |
| Density per km² | 821 | 3,487 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 4,797 | 2,143 |
| Median house price €/m² | 6,137 | 2,489 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 19.1 | 12.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 36.02% | 49.88% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 29,010 | 22,640 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 11.2% | 15.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.2 | 6.9 |
| Average temperature | 14.7°C | 12.1°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,873 | 1,958 |
| Area km² | 186 | 42.7 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Aix-en-Provence vs Clermont-Ferrand: your questions
Which is the larger city, Aix-en-Provence or Clermont-Ferrand?
By population, Aix-en-Provence: 152,854 inhabitants versus 148,795 for Clermont-Ferrand (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Aix-en-Provence is the 22nd largest city in France, Clermont-Ferrand the 25th. By area, Aix-en-Provence is also the larger (186 km²).
How far is Aix-en-Provence from Clermont-Ferrand?
Aix-en-Provence and Clermont-Ferrand are 308 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Aix-en-Provence or Clermont-Ferrand?
To buy an apartment, Aix-en-Provence is more expensive: €4,797 per m² (median price), versus €2,143 in Clermont-Ferrand (+124%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Aix-en-Provence or Clermont-Ferrand?
In Aix-en-Provence, half of the residents have a standard of living above €29,010 a year, versus €22,640 in Clermont-Ferrand (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Aix-en-Provence or Clermont-Ferrand?
Aix-en-Provence: 2,873 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,958 in Clermont-Ferrand (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures