2026 comparison
Bastia vs Menton: 2026 comparison
Bastia has more inhabitants than Menton: 47,374 versus 31,012, or 53% more. Bastia is both larger (19.4 km² versus 14.1 km²) and more densely populated (2,444 inhabitants per km² versus 2,207).
The median apartment price is higher in Menton: €4,800 per m² versus €2,852. The median standard of living is higher in Menton (€25,700 a year versus €22,880).
The two cities are 199 km apart as the crow flies.
Bastia
City in Haute-Corse
- Population
- 47,374 inhab.
- 147th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 19.4 km²
- Density
- 2,444 per km²
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Menton
City in Alpes-Maritimes
FAlpes-Maritimes06Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Population
- 31,012 inhab.
- 279th in France · 8th in its department
- Area
- 14.1 km²
- Density
- 2,207 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1936
BastiaMenton
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Bastia+53% | 47,374 | 31,012 | More populous: Bastia+53% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Menton+3.7 pts | −2.4% | +1.2% | Stronger growth: Menton+3.7 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Bastia+2.0 pts | +10.9% | +8.9% | Stronger growth: Bastia+2.0 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Bastia+11% | 2,444 | 2,207 | Denser: Bastia+11% |
| Under 15More young people: Menton+0.2 pt | 15.2% | 15.4% | More young people: Menton+0.2 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Menton+0.8 pt | 24.4% | 25.2% | More seniors: Menton+0.8 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Bastia+0.18 | 2.20 | 2.02 | Larger households: Bastia+0.18 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Menton+68% | 2,852 | 4,800 | More expensive: Menton+68% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Menton+51% | 4,066 | 6,123 | More expensive: Menton+51% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Menton+54% | 13.6 | 21.1 | More expensive: Menton+54% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Menton+53% | 12.5 | 19.1 | More expensive: Menton+53% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Menton+16 pts | 40.2% | 56.5% | More homeowners: Menton+16 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Menton+0.6 pt | 8.6% | 9.3% | More houses: Menton+0.6 pt |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Bastia+21 pts | 31.6% | 10.4% | More social housing: Bastia+21 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Menton+41 pts | 1.2% | 42.1% | More second homes: Menton+41 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Menton+6.2 pts | 1.3% | 7.4% | More vacant homes: Menton+6.2 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Bastia+0.5 pt | 39.50% | 39.01% | Higher rate: Bastia+0.5 pt |
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 | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Menton+12% | 22,880 | 25,700 | Higher: Menton+12% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Bastia+8.7 pts | 25.9% | 17.2% | Higher: Bastia+8.7 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Menton+15% | €27,283 | €31,483 | Higher: Menton+15% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Menton+9.9 pts | 42% | 52% | More taxpaying households: Menton+9.9 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Menton+10 pts | 67.7% | 78.1% | Higher: Menton+10 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Bastia+0.8 pt | 11.5% | 10.7% | Higher: Bastia+0.8 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Gilles Simeoni | Alexandra Masson | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | regionalist | union of the far right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Menton+1.9 pt | 93% | 95% | Better covered: Menton+1.9 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Menton+10% | 91.6434 in total | 100.6312 in total | More shops per capita: Menton+10% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+50% | 23.9113 in total | 35.8111 in total | More per capita: Menton+50% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+66% | 54.5258 in total | 90.6281 in total | More per capita: Menton+66% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+49% | 8.038 in total | 11.937 in total | More per capita: Menton+49% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+39% | 2.311 in total | 3.210 in total | More per capita: Menton+39% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton2.3 times as high | 3.818 in total | 8.727 in total | More per capita: Menton2.3 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Bastia+3 | 5 | 2 | More stations: Bastia+3 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Bastia+15% | 4.1 | 3.6 | Better access: Bastia+15% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+19% | 9.545 in total | 11.335 in total | More per capita: Menton+19% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bastia2.3 times as high | 23.4111 in total | 10.332 in total | More per capita: Bastia2.3 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+70% | 7.636 in total | 12.940 in total | More per capita: Menton+70% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Menton+13% | 4.923 in total | 5.517 in total | More per capita: Menton+13% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Bastia+1 | 7 | 6 | More facilities: Bastia+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 | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Bastia+6 | 22 | 16 | More schools: Bastia+6 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Bastia+4 | 8 | 4 | More middle schools: Bastia+4 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Bastia+4 | 7 | 3 | More high schools: Bastia+4 |
| Higher education institutions and programsTie | 5 | 5 | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Menton+89% | 1.2 | 2.3 | Higher rate: Menton+89% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Menton2.2 times as high | 5.5 | 12.2 | Higher rate: Menton2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Menton+68% | 2.8 | 4.8 | Higher rate: Menton+68% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Menton+93% | 2.2 | 4.3 | Higher rate: Menton+93% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Menton+62% | 8.8 | 14.2 | Higher rate: Menton+62% |
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 | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Bastia+1.6 °C | 17.1°C | 15.5°C | Warmer: Bastia+1.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Menton+4% | 2,645 | 2,761 | Sunnier: Menton+4% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Menton+2% | 772 | 790 | Wetter: Menton+2% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Bastia+9 days/year | 71 | 62 | More rainy days: Bastia+9 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Menton+2 days/year | 1 | 3 | More frost days: Menton+2 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Bastia+5 days/year | 15 | 11 | More hot days: Bastia+5 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 | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Menton+12 | 25 | 37 | More declarations: Menton+12 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Bastia+1 | 3 | 2 | More plans: Bastia+1 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Bastia+38% | 19.4 | 14.1 | Larger: Bastia+38% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Menton+4 m | 4 m | 8 m | Higher: Menton+4 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| Department | Haute-Corse (2B) | Alpes-Maritimes (06) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération de Bastia | Communauté d'agglomération de la Riviera Française | |
| Urban unit | Bastia | Menton-Monaco (partie française) | |
| Functional area | Bastia | Monaco - Menton (partie française) |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Bastia vs Menton at a glance
| Criterion | Bastia | Menton |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 47,374 | 31,012 |
| Change over 10 years | +10.9% | +8.9% |
| Density per km² | 2,444 | 2,207 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,852 | 4,800 |
| Median house price €/m² | 4,066 | 6,123 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.6 | 21.1 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 39.50% | 39.01% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,880 | 25,700 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 11.5% | 10.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 93% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| Average temperature | 17.1°C | 15.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,645 | 2,761 |
| Area km² | 19.4 | 14.1 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Bastia vs Menton: your questions
Which is the larger city, Bastia or Menton?
By population, Bastia: 47,374 inhabitants versus 31,012 for Menton (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Bastia is the 147th largest city in France, Menton the 279th. By area, Bastia is also the larger (19.4 km²).
How far is Bastia from Menton?
Bastia and Menton are 199 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Bastia or Menton?
To buy an apartment, Menton is more expensive: €4,800 per m² (median price), versus €2,852 in Bastia (+68%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Bastia or Menton?
In Menton, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,700 a year, versus €22,880 in Bastia (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Bastia or Menton?
Menton: 2,761 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 2,645 in Bastia (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