2026 comparison
Alès vs Montpellier: 2026 comparison
Montpellier has more inhabitants than Alès: 313,712 versus 46,632, or 6.7 times as many. Montpellier is both larger (56.9 km² versus 23.2 km²) and more densely populated (5,515 inhabitants per km² versus 2,013).
The median apartment price is higher in Montpellier: €3,351 per m² versus €1,384. The median standard of living is higher in Montpellier (€21,440 a year versus €20,260).
The two cities are 60 km apart as the crow flies.
Alès
City in Gard
- Population
- 46,632 inhab.
- 154th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 23.2 km²
- Density
- 2,013 per km²
Montpellier
City in Hérault
- Population
- 313,712 inhab.
- 7th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 56.9 km²
- Density
- 5,515 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
AlèsMontpellier
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Montpellier6.7 times as high | 46,632 | 313,712 | More populous: Montpellier6.7 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Alès+6.1 pts | +13.0% | +7.0% | Stronger growth: Alès+6.1 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Montpellier+0.7 pt | +13.3% | +14.0% | Stronger growth: Montpellier+0.7 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Montpellier2.7 times as high | 2,013 | 5,515 | Denser: Montpellier2.7 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Alès+0.4 pt | 15.2% | 14.7% | More young people: Alès+0.4 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Alès+12 pts | 26.8% | 14.9% | More seniors: Alès+12 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Alès+0.07 | 1.90 | 1.83 | Larger households: Alès+0.07 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Montpellier2.4 times as high | 1,384 | 3,351 | More expensive: Montpellier2.4 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Montpellier+89% | 2,098 | 3,966 | More expensive: Montpellier+89% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Montpellier+49% | 10.4 | 15.5 | More expensive: Montpellier+49% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Montpellier+53% | 9.3 | 14.3 | More expensive: Montpellier+53% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Alès+8.2 pts | 38.8% | 30.6% | More homeowners: Alès+8.2 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Alès+25 pts | 36.8% | 11.6% | More houses: Alès+25 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Alès+13 pts | 37.3% | 24.7% | More social housing: Alès+13 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Montpellier+3.4 pts | 1.1% | 4.5% | More second homes: Montpellier+3.4 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Montpellier+0.2 pt | 6.8% | 6.9% | More vacant homes: Montpellier+0.2 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Alès+6.1 pts | 60.37% | 54.28% | Higher rate: Alès+6.1 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 | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Montpellier+6% | 20,260 | 21,440 | Higher: Montpellier+6% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Alès+0.5 pt | 31.4% | 30.9% | Higher: Alès+0.5 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Montpellier+22% | €21,053 | €25,669 | Higher: Montpellier+22% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Montpellier+8.5 pts | 31% | 40% | More taxpaying households: Montpellier+8.5 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Montpellier+6.3 pts | 61.5% | 67.8% | Higher: Montpellier+6.3 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Alès+4.7 pts | 23.0% | 18.3% | Higher: Alès+4.7 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Christophe Rivenq | Michaël Delafosse | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Alès+3.9 pts | 95% | 91% | Better covered: Alès+3.9 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Alès+79% | 105.1490 in total | 58.71,841 in total | More shops per capita: Alès+79% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Alès+7% | 24.2113 in total | 22.6708 in total | More per capita: Alès+7% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montpellier+30% | 42.2197 in total | 54.91,721 in total | More per capita: Montpellier+30% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Alès+93% | 22.3104 in total | 11.6363 in total | More per capita: Alès+93% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Alès+64% | 2.110 in total | 1.341 in total | More per capita: Alès+64% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montpellier+72% | 1.15 in total | 1.858 in total | More per capita: Montpellier+72% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Montpellier+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Montpellier+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Montpellier+57% | 3.2 | 5.0 | Better access: Montpellier+57% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montpellier+83% | 6.932 in total | 12.5393 in total | More per capita: Montpellier+83% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Alès+0.3% | 33.5156 in total | 33.31,046 in total | More per capita: Alès+0.3% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Alès+7% | 8.841 in total | 8.2257 in total | More per capita: Alès+7% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Alès+27% | 3.918 in total | 3.095 in total | More per capita: Alès+27% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Montpellier+21 | 6 | 27 | More facilities: Montpellier+21 |
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 | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Montpellier+103 | 27 | 130 | More schools: Montpellier+103 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Montpellier+24 | 11 | 35 | More middle schools: Montpellier+24 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Montpellier+28 | 6 | 34 | More high schools: Montpellier+28 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Montpellier+98 | 3 | 101 | More facilities: Montpellier+98 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Montpellier+25% | 6.1 | 7.7 | Higher rate: Montpellier+25% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montpellier2.2 times as high | 10.3 | 23.1 | Higher rate: Montpellier2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Alès+10% | 5.5 | 5.0 | Higher rate: Alès+10% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montpellier+43% | 1.9 | 2.7 | Higher rate: Montpellier+43% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montpellier+21% | 11.8 | 14.3 | Higher rate: Montpellier+21% |
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 | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Montpellier+0.5 °C | 15.0°C | 15.5°C | Warmer: Montpellier+0.5 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,705 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Alès+64% | 1,047 | 639 | Wetter: Alès+64% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Alès+20 days/year | 77 | 58 | More rainy days: Alès+20 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Alès+22 days/year | 44 | 21 | More frost days: Alès+22 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Alès+37 days/year | 71 | 34 | More hot days: Alès+37 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 | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Montpellier+16 | 20 | 36 | More declarations: Montpellier+16 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Montpellier+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Montpellier+1 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Montpellier2.5 times as high | 23.2 | 56.9 | Larger: Montpellier2.5 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Alès+117 m | 136 m | 19 m | Higher: Alès+117 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| Department | Gard (30) | Hérault (34) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Alès Agglomération | Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Alès | Montpellier | |
| Functional area | Alès | Montpellier |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Alès vs Montpellier at a glance
| Criterion | Alès | Montpellier |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 46,632 | 313,712 |
| Change over 10 years | +13.3% | +14.0% |
| Density per km² | 2,013 | 5,515 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,384 | 3,351 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,098 | 3,966 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 10.4 | 15.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 60.37% | 54.28% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,260 | 21,440 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 23.0% | 18.3% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 91% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.2 | 5.0 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.1 | 7.7 |
| Average temperature | 15.0°C | 15.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,705 |
| Area km² | 23.2 | 56.9 |
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FAQ
Alès vs Montpellier: your questions
Which is the larger city, Alès or Montpellier?
By population, Montpellier: 313,712 inhabitants versus 46,632 for Alès (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Montpellier is the 7th largest city in France, Alès the 154th. By area, Montpellier is also the larger (56.9 km²).
How far is Alès from Montpellier?
Alès and Montpellier are 60 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Alès or Montpellier?
To buy an apartment, Montpellier is more expensive: €3,351 per m² (median price), versus €1,384 in Alès (+142%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Alès or Montpellier?
In Montpellier, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,440 a year, versus €20,260 in Alès (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Alès and Montpellier in the same department?
No: Alès is in Gard (30), and Montpellier in Hérault (34), both in the Occitanie region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures