2026 comparison
Béthune vs Boulogne-sur-Mer: 2026 comparison
Boulogne-sur-Mer has more inhabitants than Béthune: 40,924 versus 25,585, or 60% more. Béthune covers a larger area (9.5 km² versus 8.4 km²), but Boulogne-sur-Mer is more densely populated: 4,860 inhabitants per km² versus 2,705.
The median apartment price is higher in Béthune: €1,714 per m² versus €1,613. The median standard of living is higher in Béthune (€21,370 a year versus €19,800).
The two cities are 77 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Béthune
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 25,585 inhab.
- 364th in France · 7th in its department
- Area
- 9.5 km²
- Density
- 2,705 per km²
Boulogne-sur-Mer
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 40,924 inhab.
- 198th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 8.4 km²
- Density
- 4,860 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BéthuneBoulogne-sur-Mer
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Boulogne-sur-Mer+60% | 25,585 | 40,924 | More populous: Boulogne-sur-Mer+60% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Béthune+0.4 pt | +0.1% | −0.3% | Stronger growth: Béthune+0.4 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Béthune+3.8 pts | −0.9% | −4.7% | Smaller decline: Béthune+3.8 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Boulogne-sur-Mer+80% | 2,705 | 4,860 | Denser: Boulogne-sur-Mer+80% |
| Under 15More young people: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.9 pt | 15.6% | 16.6% | More young people: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.8 pt | 19.5% | 20.2% | More seniors: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.8 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Béthune+0.02 | 1.94 | 1.92 | Larger households: Béthune+0.02 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Béthune+6% | 1,714 | 1,613 | More expensive: Béthune+6% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+6% | 1,512 | 1,610 | More expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+6% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedTie | 11.5 | 11.5 | Tie |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8% | 8.8 | 9.5 | More expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Béthune+8.6 pts | 38.6% | 30.0% | More homeowners: Béthune+8.6 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Béthune+24 pts | 50.5% | 26.4% | More houses: Béthune+24 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8.3 pts | 29.8% | 38.1% | More social housing: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8.3 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.7 pts | 1.2% | 4.0% | More second homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.7 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Béthune+3.0 pts | 11.5% | 8.5% | More vacant homes: Béthune+3.0 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Béthune+25 pts | 82.34% | 57.59% | Higher rate: Béthune+25 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 | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Béthune+8% | 21,370 | 19,800 | Higher: Béthune+8% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.5 pts | 28.0% | 30.5% | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.5 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Béthune+18% | €23,924 | €20,197 | Higher: Béthune+18% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Béthune+2.7 pts | 36% | 34% | More taxpaying households: Béthune+2.7 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Tie | 70.5% | 70.5% | Tie |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.7 pts | 17.9% | 21.6% | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.7 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Olivier Gacquerre | Frédéric Cuvillier | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | UDI | Socialist Party | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.7 pts | 96% | 100% | Better covered: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.7 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Béthune+56% | 96.9248 in total | 62.1254 in total | More shops per capita: Béthune+56% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+24% | 19.249 in total | 23.797 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+24% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béthune+4% | 40.3103 in total | 38.9159 in total | More per capita: Béthune+4% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béthune+71% | 24.262 in total | 14.258 in total | More per capita: Béthune+71% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béthune+11% | 3.59 in total | 3.213 in total | More per capita: Béthune+11% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+25% | 2.05 in total | 2.410 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+25% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Boulogne-sur-Mer+53% | 3.1 | 4.7 | Better access: Boulogne-sur-Mer+53% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béthune+72% | 16.843 in total | 9.840 in total | More per capita: Béthune+72% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béthune5.1 times as high | 44.9115 in total | 8.836 in total | More per capita: Béthune5.1 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béthune+67% | 9.023 in total | 5.422 in total | More per capita: Béthune+67% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13% | 3.910 in total | 4.418 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3 | 4 | 7 | More facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3 |
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 | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8 | 16 | 24 | More schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 | 6 | 8 | More middle schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Béthune+1 | 5 | 4 | More high schools: Béthune+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 | 4 | 5 | More facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+34% | 6.0 | 8.0 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+34% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Béthune+13% | 11.4 | 10.0 | Higher rate: Béthune+13% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Béthune+3% | 9.2 | 8.9 | Higher rate: Béthune+3% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Tie | 1.1 | 1.1 | Tie |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+6% | 16.2 | 17.1 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+6% |
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 | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.1 °C | 11.1°C | 11.2°C | Warmer: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,710 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13% | 732 | 825 | Wetter: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4 days/year | 124 | 127 | More rainy days: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Béthune+20 days/year | 39 | 19 | More frost days: Béthune+20 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Béthune+5 days/year | 6 | 2 | More hot days: Béthune+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 | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+7 | 18 | 25 | More declarations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+7 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 |
| Radon potential | Low, with aggravating factors | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Béthune+12% | 9.46 | 8.42 | Larger: Béthune+12% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16 m | 35 m | 51 m | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| DepartmentSame | Pas-de-Calais (62) | Pas-de-Calais (62) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois-Lys Romane | Communauté d'agglomération du Boulonnais | |
| Urban unit | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer | |
| Functional area | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Béthune vs Boulogne-sur-Mer at a glance
| Criterion | Béthune | Boulogne-sur-Mer |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 25,585 | 40,924 |
| Change over 10 years | −0.9% | −4.7% |
| Density per km² | 2,705 | 4,860 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,714 | 1,613 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,512 | 1,610 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.5 | 11.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 82.34% | 57.59% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,370 | 19,800 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 17.9% | 21.6% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 100% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.1 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| Average temperature | 11.1°C | 11.2°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,710 |
| Area km² | 9.46 | 8.42 |
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FAQ
Béthune vs Boulogne-sur-Mer: your questions
Which is the larger city, Béthune or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
By population, Boulogne-sur-Mer: 40,924 inhabitants versus 25,585 for Béthune (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Boulogne-sur-Mer is the 198th largest city in France, Béthune the 364th. By area, Béthune is the larger (9.5 km²).
How far is Béthune from Boulogne-sur-Mer?
Béthune and Boulogne-sur-Mer are 77 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Pas-de-Calais).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Béthune or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
To buy an apartment, Béthune is more expensive: €1,714 per m² (median price), versus €1,613 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (+6%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Béthune or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
In Béthune, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,370 a year, versus €19,800 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Béthune and Boulogne-sur-Mer in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Pas-de-Calais (62), in the Hauts-de-France region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures