2026 comparison
Béziers vs La Rochelle (17): 2026 comparison
Béziers has more inhabitants than La Rochelle: 82,629 versus 81,843, or 1.0% more. Béziers covers a larger area (95.5 km² versus 28.4 km²), but La Rochelle is more densely populated: 2,879 inhabitants per km² versus 865.
The median apartment price is higher in La Rochelle: €4,960 per m² versus €1,592. The median standard of living is higher in La Rochelle (€24,960 a year versus €18,390).
The two cities are 468 km apart as the crow flies.
Béziers
City in Hérault
- Population
- 82,629 inhab.
- 60th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 95.5 km²
- Density
- 865 per km²
La Rochelle
City in Charente-Maritime
FCharente-Maritime17Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Population
- 81,843 inhab.
- 62nd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 28.4 km²
- Density
- 2,879 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BéziersLa Rochelle
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Béziers+1.0% | 82,629 | 81,843 | More populous: Béziers+1.0% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Béziers+0.2 pt | +5.1% | +4.9% | Stronger growth: Béziers+0.2 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Béziers+1.6 pt | +9.0% | +7.4% | Stronger growth: Béziers+1.6 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: La Rochelle3.3 times as high | 865 | 2,879 | Denser: La Rochelle3.3 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Béziers+5.4 pts | 18.0% | 12.6% | More young people: Béziers+5.4 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: La Rochelle+1.6 pt | 23.5% | 25.1% | More seniors: La Rochelle+1.6 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Béziers+0.30 | 2.02 | 1.72 | Larger households: Béziers+0.30 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: La Rochelle3.1 times as high | 1,592 | 4,960 | More expensive: La Rochelle3.1 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: La Rochelle+99% | 2,222 | 4,412 | More expensive: La Rochelle+99% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Rochelle+32% | 11.2 | 14.7 | More expensive: La Rochelle+32% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Rochelle+29% | 11.3 | 14.6 | More expensive: La Rochelle+29% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Béziers+2.9 pts | 40.1% | 37.1% | More homeowners: Béziers+2.9 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Béziers+5.5 pts | 35.4% | 30.0% | More houses: Béziers+5.5 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: La Rochelle+7.7 pts | 22.4% | 30.1% | More social housing: La Rochelle+7.7 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: La Rochelle+9.8 pts | 4.3% | 14.1% | More second homes: La Rochelle+9.8 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Béziers+9.3 pts | 15.6% | 6.3% | More vacant homes: Béziers+9.3 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: La Rochelle+3.3 pts | 51.93% | 55.25% | Higher rate: La Rochelle+3.3 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 | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: La Rochelle+36% | 18,390 | 24,960 | Higher: La Rochelle+36% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Béziers+19 pts | 38.8% | 19.9% | Higher: Béziers+19 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: La Rochelle+40% | €21,557 | €30,162 | Higher: La Rochelle+40% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: La Rochelle+16 pts | 30% | 46% | More taxpaying households: La Rochelle+16 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: La Rochelle+5.8 pts | 63.9% | 69.7% | Higher: La Rochelle+5.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Béziers+7.7 pts | 22.1% | 14.4% | Higher: Béziers+7.7 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Robert Ménard | Olivier Falorni | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 95% | 95% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Béziers+7% | 94.3779 in total | 87.7718 in total | More shops per capita: Béziers+7% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béziers+12% | 27.4226 in total | 24.3199 in total | More per capita: Béziers+12% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+9% | 51.3424 in total | 56.1459 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+9% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+99% | 13.9115 in total | 27.7227 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+99% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+62% | 1.815 in total | 2.924 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+62% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle2.1 times as high | 2.521 in total | 5.343 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle2.1 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: La Rochelle+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: La Rochelle+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: La Rochelle+59% | 3.6 | 5.8 | Better access: La Rochelle+59% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+98% | 9.074 in total | 17.7145 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+98% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béziers+14% | 29.9247 in total | 26.1214 in total | More per capita: Béziers+14% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+10% | 9.175 in total | 10.082 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+10% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Béziers+16% | 4.134 in total | 3.529 in total | More per capita: Béziers+16% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: La Rochelle+2 | 11 | 13 | More facilities: La Rochelle+2 |
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 | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Béziers+6 | 43 | 37 | More schools: Béziers+6 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Béziers+5 | 14 | 9 | More middle schools: Béziers+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: La Rochelle+2 | 12 | 14 | More high schools: La Rochelle+2 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: La Rochelle+5 | 15 | 20 | More facilities: La Rochelle+5 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Béziers+64% | 6.5 | 4.0 | Higher rate: Béziers+64% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Rochelle+19% | 13.9 | 16.7 | Higher rate: La Rochelle+19% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Béziers+33% | 6.5 | 4.9 | Higher rate: Béziers+33% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Béziers+37% | 2.8 | 2.0 | Higher rate: Béziers+37% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Rochelle+13% | 12.5 | 14.1 | Higher rate: La Rochelle+13% |
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 | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Béziers+2.0 °C | 15.5°C | 13.5°C | Warmer: Béziers+2.0 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,303 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: La Rochelle+29% | 585 | 754 | Wetter: La Rochelle+29% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: La Rochelle+57 days/year | 58 | 114 | More rainy days: La Rochelle+57 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Béziers+3 days/year | 23 | 19 | More frost days: Béziers+3 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Béziers+41 days/year | 53 | 11 | More hot days: Béziers+41 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 | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Béziers+5 | 26 | 21 | More declarations: Béziers+5 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Béziers3.4 times as high | 95.5 | 28.4 | Larger: Béziers3.4 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Béziers+58 m | 64 m | 7 m | Higher: Béziers+58 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Hérault (34) | Charente-Maritime (17) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération de Béziers-Méditerranée | Communauté d'agglomération de La Rochelle | |
| Urban unit | Béziers | La Rochelle | |
| Functional area | Béziers | La Rochelle |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Béziers vs La Rochelle (17) at a glance
| Criterion | Béziers | La Rochelle |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 82,629 | 81,843 |
| Change over 10 years | +9.0% | +7.4% |
| Density per km² | 865 | 2,879 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,592 | 4,960 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,222 | 4,412 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.2 | 14.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 51.93% | 55.25% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 18,390 | 24,960 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 22.1% | 14.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.6 | 5.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.5 | 4.0 |
| Average temperature | 15.5°C | 13.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,303 |
| Area km² | 95.5 | 28.4 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Béziers vs La Rochelle (17): your questions
Which is the larger city, Béziers or La Rochelle?
By population, Béziers: 82,629 inhabitants versus 81,843 for La Rochelle (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Béziers is the 60th largest city in France, La Rochelle the 62nd. By area, Béziers is also the larger (95.5 km²).
How far is Béziers from La Rochelle?
Béziers and La Rochelle are 468 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Béziers or La Rochelle?
To buy an apartment, La Rochelle is more expensive: €4,960 per m² (median price), versus €1,592 in Béziers (+212%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Béziers or La Rochelle?
In La Rochelle, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,960 a year, versus €18,390 in Béziers (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Béziers and La Rochelle in the same department?
No: Béziers is in Hérault (34), in the Occitanie region, and La Rochelle in Charente-Maritime (17), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures