Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Blagnac vs Castres (81): 2026 comparison

Castres has more inhabitants than Blagnac: 43,800 versus 28,047, or 56% more. Castres covers a larger area (98.2 km² versus 16.9 km²), but Blagnac is more densely populated: 1,662 inhabitants per km² versus 446.

The median apartment price is higher in Blagnac: €3,003 per m² versus €1,667. The median standard of living is higher in Blagnac (€28,060 a year versus €23,620).

The two cities are 70 km apart as the crow flies.

BlagnacCastres
BlagnacCastres70 km as the crow flies

Blagnac

City in Haute-Garonne

Haute-Garonne31Occitanie

Population
28,047 inhab.
316th in France · 4th in its department
Area
16.9 km²
Density
1,662 per km²
Full profile of Blagnac

© Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0

Castres

City in Tarn

Tarn81Occitanie

Population
43,800 inhab.
176th in France · 2nd in its department
Area
98.2 km²
Density
446 per km²
Full profile of Castres

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

BlagnacCastres

Population: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Castres+56%28,04743,800More populous: Castres+56%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Blagnac+8.0 pts+9.7%+1.7%Stronger growth: Blagnac+8.0 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Blagnac+18 pts+20.2%+2.1%Stronger growth: Blagnac+18 pts
Density per km²Denser: Blagnac3.7 times as high1,662446Denser: Blagnac3.7 times as high
Under 15More young people: Blagnac+2.7 pts17.8%15.1%More young people: Blagnac+2.7 pts
65 and overMore seniors: Castres+11 pts16.0%26.7%More seniors: Castres+11 pts
People per householdLarger households: Blagnac+0.042.011.97Larger households: Blagnac+0.04

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Blagnac+80%3,0031,667More expensive: Blagnac+80%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Blagnac2.3 times as high3,7031,607More expensive: Blagnac2.3 times as high
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Blagnac+36%13.610.0More expensive: Blagnac+36%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Blagnac+55%12.48.0More expensive: Blagnac+55%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Castres+10 pts44.1%54.4%More homeowners: Castres+10 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Castres+29 pts30.1%59.1%More houses: Castres+29 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Blagnac+3.3 pts20.9%17.7%More social housing: Blagnac+3.3 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Blagnac+0.5 pt3.5%3.0%More second homes: Blagnac+0.5 pt
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Castres+7.0 pts3.7%10.7%More vacant homes: Castres+7.0 pts
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Blagnac+3.9 pts65.32%61.38%Higher rate: Blagnac+3.9 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

Income and jobs: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Blagnac+19%28,06023,620Higher: Blagnac+19%
Poverty rateHigher: Castres+5.4 pts15.7%21.1%Higher: Castres+5.4 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Blagnac+36%€36,742€26,981Higher: Blagnac+36%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Blagnac+16 pts56%40%More taxpaying households: Blagnac+16 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Blagnac+7.3 pts79.9%72.6%Higher: Blagnac+7.3 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Castres+2.7 pts11.8%14.5%Higher: Castres+2.7 pts

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
MayorJoseph CarlesFlorian Azéma
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)miscellaneous centreRassemblement national
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Castres+0.9 pt96%97%Better covered: Castres+0.9 pt

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Castres+19%82.7232 in total98.6432 in totalMore shops per capita: Castres+19%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Castres+66%15.744 in total26.0114 in totalMore per capita: Castres+66%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blagnac+37%47.4133 in total34.7152 in totalMore per capita: Blagnac+37%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blagnac+5%23.566 in total22.498 in totalMore per capita: Blagnac+5%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blagnac+43%3.911 in total2.712 in totalMore per capita: Blagnac+43%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blagnac2.7 times as high6.117 in total2.310 in totalMore per capita: Blagnac2.7 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Castres+101More stations: Castres+1

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Blagnac+22%4.13.4Better access: Blagnac+22%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Castres+19%7.822 in total9.441 in totalMore per capita: Castres+19%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Castres+13%18.251 in total20.590 in totalMore per capita: Castres+13%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blagnac+37%12.535 in total9.140 in totalMore per capita: Blagnac+37%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Castres+20%2.98 in total3.415 in totalMore per capita: Castres+20%
HospitalsMore facilities: Castres+819More facilities: Castres+8

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

Education: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Castres+20828More schools: Castres+20
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Castres+448More middle schools: Castres+4
High schoolsMore high schools: Castres+6410More high schools: Castres+6
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Blagnac+187More facilities: Blagnac+1

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Castres+65%5.48.9Higher rate: Castres+65%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blagnac+96%16.38.3Higher rate: Blagnac+96%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Castres+9%3.84.2Higher rate: Castres+9%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blagnac2.6 times as high2.40.9Higher rate: Blagnac2.6 times as high
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blagnac+30%11.28.6Higher rate: Blagnac+30%

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

Climate: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Blagnac+0.4 °C14.2°C13.8°CWarmer: Blagnac+0.4 °C
Sunshine h/year2,075—
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Castres+43%627896Wetter: Castres+43%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Castres+13 days/year96109More rainy days: Castres+13 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Castres+6 days/year2732More frost days: Castres+6 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Castres+5 days/year3338More hot days: Castres+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

Natural hazards: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Castres+162036More declarations: Castres+16
Natural hazard prevention plansTie22Tie
Radon potentialLowSignificant

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Blagnac and Castres compared
CriterionBlagnacCastresDifference
Area km²Larger: Castres5.8 times as high16.998.2Larger: Castres5.8 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Castres+36 m135 m171 mHigher: Castres+36 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)Large urban centreIntermediate urban centre
DepartmentHaute-Garonne (31)Tarn (81)
IntercommunalityToulouse MétropoleCommunauté d'agglomération de Castres Mazamet
Urban unitToulouseCastres
Functional areaToulouseCastres

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Blagnac vs Castres (81) at a glance

Summary table: Blagnac and Castres
CriterionBlagnacCastres
Population inhab.28,04743,800
Change over 10 years+20.2%+2.1%
Density per km²1,662446
Median apartment price €/m²3,0031,667
Median house price €/m²3,7031,607
Apartment rent €/m²13.610.0
Property tax (combined rate)65.32%61.38%
Median standard of living €/year28,06023,620
Unemployment rate (census)11.8%14.5%
Premises with fiber96%97%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year4.13.4
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes5.48.9
Average temperature14.2°C13.8°C
Sunshine h/year2,075—
Area km²16.998.2

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Blagnac vs Castres (81): your questions

Which is the larger city, Blagnac or Castres?

By population, Castres: 43,800 inhabitants versus 28,047 for Blagnac (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Castres is the 176th largest city in France, Blagnac the 316th. By area, Castres is also the larger (98.2 km²).

How far is Blagnac from Castres?

Blagnac and Castres are 70 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Blagnac or Castres?

To buy an apartment, Blagnac is more expensive: €3,003 per m² (median price), versus €1,667 in Castres (+80%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Blagnac or Castres?

In Blagnac, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,060 a year, versus €23,620 in Castres (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Are Blagnac and Castres in the same department?

No: Blagnac is in Haute-Garonne (31), and Castres in Tarn (81), both in the Occitanie region.

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

This website uses cookies to give you the best possible experience. Read the privacy policy