2026 comparison
Bourges vs Châteauroux: 2026 comparison
Bourges has more inhabitants than Châteauroux: 66,155 versus 44,536, or 49% more. Bourges covers a larger area (68.7 km² versus 25.5 km²), but Châteauroux is more densely populated: 1,744 inhabitants per km² versus 962.
The median apartment price is higher in Bourges: €1,530 per m² versus €1,154. The median standard of living is higher in Bourges (€24,230 a year versus €22,710).
The two cities are 62 km apart as the crow flies.
Bourges
City in Cher
- Population
- 66,155 inhab.
- 82nd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 68.7 km²
- Density
- 962 per km²
Châteauroux
City in Indre
- Population
- 44,536 inhab.
- 168th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 25.5 km²
- Density
- 1,744 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BourgesChâteauroux
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Bourges+49% | 66,155 | 44,536 | More populous: Bourges+49% |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Bourges+0.4 pt | −0.7% | −1.1% | Smaller decline: Bourges+0.4 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Bourges+0.5 pt | −4.5% | −5.0% | Smaller decline: Bourges+0.5 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Châteauroux+81% | 962 | 1,744 | Denser: Châteauroux+81% |
| Under 15More young people: Châteauroux+0.5 pt | 15.5% | 15.9% | More young people: Châteauroux+0.5 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Châteauroux+2.6 pts | 23.2% | 25.8% | More seniors: Châteauroux+2.6 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Bourges+0.01 | 1.89 | 1.88 | Larger households: Bourges+0.01 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Bourges+33% | 1,530 | 1,154 | More expensive: Bourges+33% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Bourges+22% | 1,761 | 1,442 | More expensive: Bourges+22% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Bourges+10% | 11.4 | 10.3 | More expensive: Bourges+10% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Bourges+13% | 9.6 | 8.5 | More expensive: Bourges+13% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Bourges+1.5 pt | 48.4% | 46.8% | More homeowners: Bourges+1.5 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Châteauroux+4.3 pts | 44.3% | 48.7% | More houses: Châteauroux+4.3 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Châteauroux+6.1 pts | 31.7% | 37.8% | More social housing: Châteauroux+6.1 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Bourges+0.5 pt | 3.2% | 2.7% | More second homes: Bourges+0.5 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Châteauroux+1.3 pt | 11.6% | 12.9% | More vacant homes: Châteauroux+1.3 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Bourges+0.1 pt | 45.92% | 45.78% | Higher rate: Bourges+0.1 pt |
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 | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Bourges+7% | 24,230 | 22,710 | Higher: Bourges+7% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Châteauroux+1.9 pt | 21.6% | 23.5% | Higher: Châteauroux+1.9 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Bourges+8% | €26,872 | €24,826 | Higher: Bourges+8% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Bourges+4.4 pts | 45% | 41% | More taxpaying households: Bourges+4.4 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Châteauroux+0.9 pt | 71.8% | 72.7% | Higher: Châteauroux+0.9 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Châteauroux+0.8 pt | 14.0% | 14.8% | Higher: Châteauroux+0.8 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Yann Galut | Gil Avérous | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 98% | 98% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Bourges+22% | 73.3485 in total | 60.2268 in total | More shops per capita: Bourges+22% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+21% | 22.2147 in total | 18.482 in total | More per capita: Bourges+21% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+36% | 40.4267 in total | 29.6132 in total | More per capita: Bourges+36% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châteauroux2.1 times as high | 20.7137 in total | 42.7190 in total | More per capita: Châteauroux2.1 times as high |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+16% | 2.919 in total | 2.511 in total | More per capita: Bourges+16% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+27% | 2.617 in total | 2.09 in total | More per capita: Bourges+27% |
| 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 | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Bourges+12% | 3.3 | 2.9 | Better access: Bourges+12% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châteauroux+7% | 7.046 in total | 7.433 in total | More per capita: Châteauroux+7% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châteauroux2.8 times as high | 8.657 in total | 23.8106 in total | More per capita: Châteauroux2.8 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+58% | 7.147 in total | 4.520 in total | More per capita: Bourges+58% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+1.0% | 3.221 in total | 3.114 in total | More per capita: Bourges+1.0% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Bourges+2 | 8 | 6 | More facilities: Bourges+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 | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Bourges+6 | 37 | 31 | More schools: Bourges+6 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Bourges+2 | 11 | 9 | More middle schools: Bourges+2 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Bourges+7 | 15 | 8 | More high schools: Bourges+7 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Bourges+5 | 17 | 12 | More facilities: Bourges+5 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Bourges2.4 times as high | 9.5 | 3.9 | Higher rate: Bourges2.4 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châteauroux+3% | 9.2 | 9.5 | Higher rate: Châteauroux+3% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châteauroux+18% | 3.9 | 4.6 | Higher rate: Châteauroux+18% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourges+10% | 1.9 | 1.8 | Higher rate: Bourges+10% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourges+13% | 15.9 | 14.1 | Higher rate: Bourges+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 | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Châteauroux+0.1 °C | 12.1°C | 12.2°C | Warmer: Châteauroux+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Châteauroux+0.1% | 1,889 | 1,891 | Sunnier: Châteauroux+0.1% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Châteauroux+10% | 743 | 816 | Wetter: Châteauroux+10% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Châteauroux+5 days/year | 117 | 123 | More rainy days: Châteauroux+5 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Châteauroux+5 days/year | 45 | 50 | More frost days: Châteauroux+5 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Châteauroux+4 days/year | 18 | 22 | More hot days: Châteauroux+4 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 | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Châteauroux+3 | 15 | 18 | More declarations: Châteauroux+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Bourges2.7 times as high | 68.7 | 25.5 | Larger: Bourges2.7 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Châteauroux+1 m | 154 m | 155 m | Higher: Châteauroux+1 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | |
| Department | Cher (18) | Indre (36) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Bourges Plus | Communauté d'agglomération Châteauroux Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Bourges | Châteauroux | |
| Functional area | Bourges | Châteauroux |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Bourges vs Châteauroux at a glance
| Criterion | Bourges | Châteauroux |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 66,155 | 44,536 |
| Change over 10 years | −4.5% | −5.0% |
| Density per km² | 962 | 1,744 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,530 | 1,154 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,761 | 1,442 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.4 | 10.3 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 45.92% | 45.78% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,230 | 22,710 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.0% | 14.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.5 | 3.9 |
| Average temperature | 12.1°C | 12.2°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,889 | 1,891 |
| Area km² | 68.7 | 25.5 |
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FAQ
Bourges vs Châteauroux: your questions
Which is the larger city, Bourges or Châteauroux?
By population, Bourges: 66,155 inhabitants versus 44,536 for Châteauroux (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Bourges is the 82nd largest city in France, Châteauroux the 168th. By area, Bourges is also the larger (68.7 km²).
How far is Bourges from Châteauroux?
Bourges and Châteauroux are 62 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Bourges or Châteauroux?
To buy an apartment, Bourges is more expensive: €1,530 per m² (median price), versus €1,154 in Châteauroux (+33%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Bourges or Châteauroux?
In Bourges, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,230 a year, versus €22,710 in Châteauroux (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Bourges or Châteauroux?
Châteauroux: 1,891 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,889 in Bourges (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