2026 comparison
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Chalon-sur-Saône: 2026 comparison
Chalon-sur-Saône has more inhabitants than Bourg-en-Bresse: 46,481 versus 43,961, or 5.7% more. Bourg-en-Bresse covers a larger area (23.9 km² versus 15.2 km²), but Chalon-sur-Saône is more densely populated: 3,054 inhabitants per km² versus 1,842.
The median apartment price is higher in Bourg-en-Bresse: €1,964 per m² versus €1,341. The median standard of living is higher in Bourg-en-Bresse (€22,480 a year versus €21,780).
The two cities are 72 km apart as the crow flies.
Bourg-en-Bresse
City in Ain
- Population
- 43,961 inhab.
- 174th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 23.9 km²
- Density
- 1,842 per km²
© Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0
Chalon-sur-Saône
City in Saône-et-Loire
FSaône-et-Loire71Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
- Population
- 46,481 inhab.
- 156th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 15.2 km²
- Density
- 3,054 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Bourg-en-BresseChalon-sur-Saône
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Chalon-sur-Saône+6% | 43,961 | 46,481 | More populous: Chalon-sur-Saône+6% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Bourg-en-Bresse+2.1 pts | +2.7% | +0.7% | Stronger growth: Bourg-en-Bresse+2.1 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Bourg-en-Bresse+4.8 pts | +4.6% | −0.1% | Stronger growth: Bourg-en-Bresse+4.8 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Chalon-sur-Saône+66% | 1,842 | 3,054 | Denser: Chalon-sur-Saône+66% |
| Under 15More young people: Bourg-en-Bresse+0.1 pt | 16.3% | 16.2% | More young people: Bourg-en-Bresse+0.1 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.2 pt | 23.0% | 23.2% | More seniors: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.2 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Bourg-en-Bresse+0.13 | 1.93 | 1.80 | Larger households: Bourg-en-Bresse+0.13 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+46% | 1,964 | 1,341 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+46% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+19% | 2,326 | 1,948 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+19% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+5% | 12.0 | 11.4 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+5% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+7% | 10.9 | 10.1 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+7% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.3 pt | 37.2% | 37.6% | More homeowners: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.3 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Bourg-en-Bresse+8.1 pts | 20.4% | 12.3% | More houses: Bourg-en-Bresse+8.1 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Bourg-en-Bresse+2.8 pts | 40.2% | 37.4% | More social housing: Bourg-en-Bresse+2.8 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Chalon-sur-Saône+1.5 pt | 2.5% | 4.0% | More second homes: Chalon-sur-Saône+1.5 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.5 pt | 9.6% | 8.1% | More vacant homes: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.5 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Chalon-sur-Saône+9.1 pts | 40.24% | 49.34% | Higher rate: Chalon-sur-Saône+9.1 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 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Bourg-en-Bresse+3% | 22,480 | 21,780 | Higher: Bourg-en-Bresse+3% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.7 pt | 24.7% | 25.4% | Higher: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.7 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Bourg-en-Bresse+7% | €25,722 | €24,034 | Higher: Bourg-en-Bresse+7% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.4 pt | 42% | 41% | More taxpaying households: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.4 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Chalon-sur-Saône+4.4 pts | 71.0% | 75.4% | Higher: Chalon-sur-Saône+4.4 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Chalon-sur-Saône+1.3 pt | 14.9% | 16.2% | Higher: Chalon-sur-Saône+1.3 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Jean-François Debat | Gilles Platret | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.4 pt | 98% | 99% | Better covered: Chalon-sur-Saône+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 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+13% | 84.6372 in total | 95.3443 in total | More shops per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+13% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+13% | 20.992 in total | 23.7110 in total | More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+13% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+1.0% | 50.3221 in total | 50.8236 in total | More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+1.0% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+7% | 30.0132 in total | 28.2131 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+7% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+23% | 3.214 in total | 2.612 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+23% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+66% | 1.88 in total | 3.014 in total | More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+66% |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Chalon-sur-Saône+16% | 3.2 | 3.7 | Better access: Chalon-sur-Saône+16% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+13% | 7.131 in total | 6.229 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+13% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+31% | 33.0145 in total | 43.2201 in total | More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+31% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+12% | 8.437 in total | 9.544 in total | More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+12% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+31% | 3.013 in total | 3.918 in total | More per capita: Chalon-sur-Saône+31% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Chalon-sur-Saône+4 | 8 | 12 | More facilities: Chalon-sur-Saône+4 |
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 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Chalon-sur-Saône+8 | 20 | 28 | More schools: Chalon-sur-Saône+8 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 | 8 | 7 | More middle schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 | 10 | 9 | More high schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Bourg-en-Bresse+2 | 13 | 11 | More facilities: Bourg-en-Bresse+2 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse2.2 times as high | 8.7 | 4.0 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse2.2 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+19% | 13.2 | 11.0 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+19% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+27% | 4.9 | 3.9 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+27% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Chalon-sur-Saône+14% | 1.5 | 1.7 | Higher rate: Chalon-sur-Saône+14% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+23% | 13.0 | 10.6 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+23% |
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 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.6 °C | 11.7°C | 12.3°C | Warmer: Chalon-sur-Saône+0.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,989 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Bourg-en-Bresse+26% | 1,033 | 818 | Wetter: Bourg-en-Bresse+26% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Bourg-en-Bresse+13 days/year | 123 | 110 | More rainy days: Bourg-en-Bresse+13 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Bourg-en-Bresse+8 days/year | 65 | 58 | More frost days: Bourg-en-Bresse+8 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Chalon-sur-Saône+16 days/year | 20 | 36 | More hot days: Chalon-sur-Saône+16 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 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 | 13 | 12 | More declarations: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Bourg-en-Bresse+57% | 23.9 | 15.2 | Larger: Bourg-en-Bresse+57% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Bourg-en-Bresse+51 m | 229 m | 178 m | Higher: Bourg-en-Bresse+51 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| Department | Ain (01) | Saône-et-Loire (71) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse | Communauté d'agglomération Le Grand Chalon | |
| Urban unit | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône | |
| Functional area | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Chalon-sur-Saône at a glance
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Chalon-sur-Saône |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 43,961 | 46,481 |
| Change over 10 years | +4.6% | −0.1% |
| Density per km² | 1,842 | 3,054 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,964 | 1,341 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,326 | 1,948 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.0 | 11.4 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 40.24% | 49.34% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,480 | 21,780 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.9% | 16.2% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 99% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 8.7 | 4.0 |
| Average temperature | 11.7°C | 12.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,989 | — |
| Area km² | 23.9 | 15.2 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Chalon-sur-Saône: your questions
Which is the larger city, Bourg-en-Bresse or Chalon-sur-Saône?
By population, Chalon-sur-Saône: 46,481 inhabitants versus 43,961 for Bourg-en-Bresse (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Chalon-sur-Saône is the 156th largest city in France, Bourg-en-Bresse the 174th. By area, Bourg-en-Bresse is the larger (23.9 km²).
How far is Bourg-en-Bresse from Chalon-sur-Saône?
Bourg-en-Bresse and Chalon-sur-Saône are 72 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Bourg-en-Bresse or Chalon-sur-Saône?
To buy an apartment, Bourg-en-Bresse is more expensive: €1,964 per m² (median price), versus €1,341 in Chalon-sur-Saône (+46%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Bourg-en-Bresse or Chalon-sur-Saône?
In Bourg-en-Bresse, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,480 a year, versus €21,780 in Chalon-sur-Saône (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Bourg-en-Bresse and Chalon-sur-Saône in the same department?
No: Bourg-en-Bresse is in Ain (01), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and Chalon-sur-Saône in Saône-et-Loire (71), in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures