2026 comparison
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Mâcon: 2026 comparison
Bourg-en-Bresse has more inhabitants than Mâcon: 43,961 versus 35,885, or 23% more. Mâcon covers a larger area (27.0 km² versus 23.9 km²), but Bourg-en-Bresse is more densely populated: 1,842 inhabitants per km² versus 1,327.
The median apartment price is higher in Bourg-en-Bresse: €1,964 per m² versus €1,573. The median standard of living is higher in Bourg-en-Bresse (€22,480 a year versus €21,200).
The two cities are 36 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
Mâcon
City in Saône-et-Loire
FSaône-et-Loire71Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
- Population
- 35,885 inhab.
- 237th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 27.0 km²
- Density
- 1,327 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Bourg-en-BresseMâcon
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Bourg-en-Bresse+23% | 43,961 | 35,885 | More populous: Bourg-en-Bresse+23% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Mâcon+1.3 pt | +2.7% | +4.0% | Stronger growth: Mâcon+1.3 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Mâcon+0.8 pt | +4.6% | +5.5% | Stronger growth: Mâcon+0.8 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Bourg-en-Bresse+39% | 1,842 | 1,327 | Denser: Bourg-en-Bresse+39% |
| Under 15More young people: Mâcon+2.2 pts | 16.3% | 18.5% | More young people: Mâcon+2.2 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.3 pt | 23.0% | 21.7% | More seniors: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.3 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Mâcon+0.06 | 1.93 | 1.99 | Larger households: Mâcon+0.06 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+25% | 1,964 | 1,573 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+25% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+2% | 2,326 | 2,275 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+2% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+11% | 12.0 | 10.7 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+11% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+19% | 10.9 | 9.2 | More expensive: Bourg-en-Bresse+19% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Bourg-en-Bresse+0.3 pt | 37.2% | 36.9% | More homeowners: Bourg-en-Bresse+0.3 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Mâcon+2.0 pt | 20.4% | 22.3% | More houses: Mâcon+2.0 pt |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Mâcon+1.6 pt | 40.2% | 41.8% | More social housing: Mâcon+1.6 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Mâcon+0.8 pt | 2.5% | 3.3% | More second homes: Mâcon+0.8 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.5 pt | 9.6% | 8.2% | More vacant homes: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.5 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Mâcon+6.6 pts | 40.24% | 46.87% | Higher rate: Mâcon+6.6 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 | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Bourg-en-Bresse+6% | 22,480 | 21,200 | Higher: Bourg-en-Bresse+6% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Mâcon+2.4 pts | 24.7% | 27.1% | Higher: Mâcon+2.4 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Bourg-en-Bresse+5% | €25,722 | €24,607 | Higher: Bourg-en-Bresse+5% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Bourg-en-Bresse+2.4 pts | 42% | 40% | More taxpaying households: Bourg-en-Bresse+2.4 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Mâcon+3.2 pts | 71.0% | 74.2% | Higher: Mâcon+3.2 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Mâcon+0.9 pt | 14.9% | 15.8% | Higher: Mâcon+0.9 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Jean-François Debat | Jean-Patrick Courtois | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous centre | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.5 pt | 98% | 97% | Better covered: Bourg-en-Bresse+1.5 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 | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Mâcon+16% | 84.6372 in total | 97.8351 in total | More shops per capita: Mâcon+16% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mâcon+15% | 20.992 in total | 24.086 in total | More per capita: Mâcon+15% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mâcon+0.9% | 50.3221 in total | 50.7182 in total | More per capita: Mâcon+0.9% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+21% | 30.0132 in total | 24.889 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+21% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+27% | 3.214 in total | 2.59 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+27% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mâcon2.1 times as high | 1.88 in total | 3.914 in total | More per capita: Mâcon2.1 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Mâcon+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Mâcon+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Mâcon+17% | 3.2 | 3.7 | Better access: Mâcon+17% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+21% | 7.131 in total | 5.921 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+21% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mâcon+26% | 33.0145 in total | 41.5149 in total | More per capita: Mâcon+26% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+26% | 8.437 in total | 6.724 in total | More per capita: Bourg-en-Bresse+26% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mâcon+23% | 3.013 in total | 3.613 in total | More per capita: Mâcon+23% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Mâcon+2 | 8 | 10 | More facilities: Mâcon+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 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Mâcon+5 | 20 | 25 | More schools: Mâcon+5 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 | 8 | 7 | More middle schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+4 | 10 | 6 | More high schools: Bourg-en-Bresse+4 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Bourg-en-Bresse+5 | 13 | 8 | More facilities: Bourg-en-Bresse+5 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+72% | 8.7 | 5.1 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+72% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+28% | 13.2 | 10.3 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+28% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+8% | 4.9 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+8% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Mâcon+34% | 1.5 | 2.0 | Higher rate: Mâcon+34% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+9% | 13.0 | 11.9 | Higher rate: Bourg-en-Bresse+9% |
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 | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Mâcon+0.6 °C | 11.7°C | 12.3°C | Warmer: Mâcon+0.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Bourg-en-Bresse+2% | 1,989 | 1,943 | Sunnier: Bourg-en-Bresse+2% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Bourg-en-Bresse+24% | 1,033 | 834 | Wetter: Bourg-en-Bresse+24% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Bourg-en-Bresse+11 days/year | 123 | 112 | More rainy days: Bourg-en-Bresse+11 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Bourg-en-Bresse+19 days/year | 65 | 47 | More frost days: Bourg-en-Bresse+19 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Mâcon+2 days/year | 20 | 22 | More hot days: Mâcon+2 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 | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Mâcon+7 | 13 | 20 | More declarations: Mâcon+7 |
| 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 | Mâcon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Mâcon+13% | 23.9 | 27.0 | Larger: Mâcon+13% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Bourg-en-Bresse+53 m | 229 m | 176 m | Higher: Bourg-en-Bresse+53 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 Mâconnais Beaujolais Agglomération | |
| Urban unit | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon | |
| Functional area | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Mâcon at a glance
| Criterion | Bourg-en-Bresse | Mâcon |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 43,961 | 35,885 |
| Change over 10 years | +4.6% | +5.5% |
| Density per km² | 1,842 | 1,327 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,964 | 1,573 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,326 | 2,275 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.0 | 10.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 40.24% | 46.87% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,480 | 21,200 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.9% | 15.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 8.7 | 5.1 |
| Average temperature | 11.7°C | 12.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,989 | 1,943 |
| Area km² | 23.9 | 27.0 |
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FAQ
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Mâcon: your questions
Which is the larger city, Bourg-en-Bresse or Mâcon?
By population, Bourg-en-Bresse: 43,961 inhabitants versus 35,885 for Mâcon (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Bourg-en-Bresse is the 174th largest city in France, Mâcon the 237th. By area, Mâcon is the larger (27.0 km²).
How far is Bourg-en-Bresse from Mâcon?
Bourg-en-Bresse and Mâcon are 36 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Bourg-en-Bresse or Mâcon?
To buy an apartment, Bourg-en-Bresse is more expensive: €1,964 per m² (median price), versus €1,573 in Mâcon (+25%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Bourg-en-Bresse or Mâcon?
In Bourg-en-Bresse, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,480 a year, versus €21,200 in Mâcon (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Bourg-en-Bresse or Mâcon?
Bourg-en-Bresse: 1,989 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,943 in Mâcon (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