2026 comparison
Besançon vs Perpignan: 2026 comparison
Perpignan has more inhabitants than Besançon: 123,136 versus 121,627, or 1.2% more. Perpignan covers a larger area (68.1 km² versus 65.1 km²), but Besançon is more densely populated: 1,870 inhabitants per km² versus 1,809.
The median apartment price is higher in Besançon: €2,177 per m² versus €1,503. The median standard of living is higher in Besançon (€23,240 a year versus €19,110).
The two cities are 563 km apart as the crow flies.
Besançon
City in Doubs
FDoubs25Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
- Population
- 121,627 inhab.
- 33rd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 65.1 km²
- Density
- 1,870 per km²
Perpignan
City in Pyrénées-Orientales
FPyrénées-Orientales66Occitanie
- Population
- 123,136 inhab.
- 32nd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 68.1 km²
- Density
- 1,809 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BesançonPerpignan
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Perpignan+1% | 121,627 | 123,136 | More populous: Perpignan+1% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Perpignan+0.6 pt | +1.5% | +2.0% | Stronger growth: Perpignan+0.6 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Besançon+0.8 pt | +1.3% | +0.5% | Stronger growth: Besançon+0.8 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Besançon+3% | 1,870 | 1,809 | Denser: Besançon+3% |
| Under 15More young people: Perpignan+2.7 pts | 14.4% | 17.1% | More young people: Perpignan+2.7 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Perpignan+4.2 pts | 18.8% | 23.0% | More seniors: Perpignan+4.2 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Perpignan+0.16 | 1.78 | 1.94 | Larger households: Perpignan+0.16 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Besançon+45% | 2,177 | 1,503 | More expensive: Besançon+45% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Besançon+28% | 2,756 | 2,151 | More expensive: Besançon+28% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Besançon+6% | 12.9 | 12.2 | More expensive: Besançon+6% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Perpignan+7% | 11.0 | 11.8 | More expensive: Perpignan+7% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Perpignan+5.4 pts | 35.5% | 40.9% | More homeowners: Perpignan+5.4 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Perpignan+13 pts | 12.8% | 26.2% | More houses: Perpignan+13 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Besançon+12 pts | 32.6% | 20.9% | More social housing: Besançon+12 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Perpignan+1.7 pt | 2.5% | 4.3% | More second homes: Perpignan+1.7 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Perpignan+5.1 pts | 9.5% | 14.6% | More vacant homes: Perpignan+5.1 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Perpignan+4.9 pts | 45.65% | 50.50% | Higher rate: Perpignan+4.9 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 | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Besançon+22% | 23,240 | 19,110 | Higher: Besançon+22% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Perpignan+12 pts | 24.0% | 36.2% | Higher: Perpignan+12 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Besançon+27% | €27,048 | €21,355 | Higher: Besançon+27% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Besançon+14 pts | 45% | 31% | More taxpaying households: Besançon+14 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Besançon+5.4 pts | 69.1% | 63.7% | Higher: Besançon+5.4 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Perpignan+8.0 pts | 14.5% | 22.5% | Higher: Perpignan+8.0 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Ludovic Fagaut | Louis Aliot | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | Rassemblement national | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Perpignan+0.4 pt | 96% | 97% | Better covered: Perpignan+0.4 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Perpignan+29% | 67.8825 in total | 87.31,075 in total | More shops per capita: Perpignan+29% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Perpignan+50% | 19.5237 in total | 29.3361 in total | More per capita: Perpignan+50% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Perpignan+56% | 35.6433 in total | 55.4682 in total | More per capita: Perpignan+56% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Perpignan+31% | 16.3198 in total | 21.4263 in total | More per capita: Perpignan+31% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Besançon+57% | 2.328 in total | 1.518 in total | More per capita: Besançon+57% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Perpignan+34% | 2.125 in total | 2.834 in total | More per capita: Perpignan+34% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Besançon+1 | 2 | 1 | More stations: Besançon+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Besançon+12% | 5.1 | 4.6 | Better access: Besançon+12% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Besançon+19% | 12.7155 in total | 10.7132 in total | More per capita: Besançon+19% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Besançon+46% | 46.9570 in total | 32.2396 in total | More per capita: Besançon+46% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Perpignan+7% | 6.984 in total | 7.491 in total | More per capita: Perpignan+7% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Perpignan+26% | 3.340 in total | 4.151 in total | More per capita: Perpignan+26% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Perpignan+1 | 19 | 20 | More facilities: Perpignan+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 | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Perpignan+1 | 70 | 71 | More schools: Perpignan+1 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Perpignan+1 | 16 | 17 | More middle schools: Perpignan+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Besançon+7 | 23 | 16 | More high schools: Besançon+7 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Besançon+5 | 27 | 22 | More facilities: Besançon+5 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Perpignan2.3 times as high | 2.8 | 6.4 | Higher rate: Perpignan2.3 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Perpignan+66% | 11.3 | 18.7 | Higher rate: Perpignan+66% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Perpignan+42% | 5.4 | 7.7 | Higher rate: Perpignan+42% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Perpignan2.5 times as high | 1.4 | 3.5 | Higher rate: Perpignan2.5 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Perpignan+95% | 10.3 | 20.1 | Higher rate: Perpignan+95% |
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 | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Perpignan+4.6 °C | 11.4°C | 16.0°C | Warmer: Perpignan+4.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Perpignan+33% | 1,873 | 2,489 | Sunnier: Perpignan+33% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Besançon2.0 times as high | 1,157 | 578 | Wetter: Besançon2.0 times as high |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Besançon+82 days/year | 136 | 54 | More rainy days: Besançon+82 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Besançon+49 days/year | 58 | 9 | More frost days: Besançon+49 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Perpignan+22 days/year | 15 | 36 | More hot days: Perpignan+22 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 | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Perpignan+6 | 16 | 22 | More declarations: Perpignan+6 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Perpignan+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Perpignan+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Perpignan+5% | 65.1 | 68.1 | Larger: Perpignan+5% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Besançon+215 m | 246 m | 31 m | Higher: Besançon+215 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Doubs (25) | Pyrénées-Orientales (66) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté urbaine Grand Besançon Métropole | Communauté urbaine Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Besançon | Perpignan | |
| Functional area | Besançon | Perpignan |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Besançon vs Perpignan at a glance
| Criterion | Besançon | Perpignan |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 121,627 | 123,136 |
| Change over 10 years | +1.3% | +0.5% |
| Density per km² | 1,870 | 1,809 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,177 | 1,503 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,756 | 2,151 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.9 | 12.2 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 45.65% | 50.50% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,240 | 19,110 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.5% | 22.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 2.8 | 6.4 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 16.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,873 | 2,489 |
| Area km² | 65.1 | 68.1 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Besançon vs Perpignan: your questions
Which is the larger city, Besançon or Perpignan?
By population, Perpignan: 123,136 inhabitants versus 121,627 for Besançon (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Perpignan is the 32nd largest city in France, Besançon the 33rd. By area, Perpignan is also the larger (68.1 km²).
How far is Besançon from Perpignan?
Besançon and Perpignan are 563 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Besançon or Perpignan?
To buy an apartment, Besançon is more expensive: €2,177 per m² (median price), versus €1,503 in Perpignan (+45%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Besançon or Perpignan?
In Besançon, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,240 a year, versus €19,110 in Perpignan (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Besançon or Perpignan?
Perpignan: 2,489 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,873 in Besançon (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