2026 comparison
Bourges vs Colmar: 2026 comparison
Colmar has more inhabitants than Bourges: 68,013 versus 66,155, or 2.8% more. Bourges covers a larger area (68.7 km² versus 66.6 km²), but Colmar is more densely populated: 1,022 inhabitants per km² versus 962.
The median standard of living is higher in Bourges (€24,230 a year versus €23,850).
The two cities are 392 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
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Colmar
City in Haut-Rhin
- Population
- 68,013 inhab.
- 79th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 66.6 km²
- Density
- 1,022 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BourgesColmar
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Colmar+3% | 66,155 | 68,013 | More populous: Colmar+3% |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Bourges+1.8 pt | −0.7% | −2.5% | Smaller decline: Bourges+1.8 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Colmar+3.0 pts | −4.5% | −1.5% | Smaller decline: Colmar+3.0 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Colmar+6% | 962 | 1,022 | Denser: Colmar+6% |
| Under 15More young people: Colmar+0.5 pt | 15.5% | 15.9% | More young people: Colmar+0.5 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Bourges+1.6 pt | 23.2% | 21.6% | More seniors: Bourges+1.6 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Colmar+0.09 | 1.89 | 1.98 | Larger households: Colmar+0.09 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,530 | not covered | |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,761 | not covered | |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colmar+11% | 11.4 | 12.7 | More expensive: Colmar+11% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colmar+30% | 9.6 | 12.5 | More expensive: Colmar+30% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Bourges+12 pts | 48.4% | 36.9% | More homeowners: Bourges+12 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Bourges+27 pts | 44.3% | 17.1% | More houses: Bourges+27 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Colmar+1.7 pt | 31.7% | 33.4% | More social housing: Colmar+1.7 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Colmar+1.6 pt | 3.2% | 4.8% | More second homes: Colmar+1.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Bourges+4.7 pts | 11.6% | 7.0% | More vacant homes: Bourges+4.7 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Bourges+12 pts | 45.92% | 33.80% | Higher rate: Bourges+12 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 | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Bourges+2% | 24,230 | 23,850 | Higher: Bourges+2% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Bourges+0.3 pt | 21.6% | 21.3% | Higher: Bourges+0.3 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Colmar+13% | €26,872 | €30,267 | Higher: Colmar+13% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Colmar+0.9 pt | 45% | 46% | More taxpaying households: Colmar+0.9 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Colmar+3.6 pts | 71.8% | 75.4% | Higher: Colmar+3.6 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Colmar+0.5 pt | 14.0% | 14.5% | Higher: Colmar+0.5 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Yann Galut | Eric Straumann | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Bourges+3.6 pts | 98% | 95% | Better covered: Bourges+3.6 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Colmar+23% | 73.3485 in total | 89.8611 in total | More shops per capita: Colmar+23% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+32% | 22.2147 in total | 29.4200 in total | More per capita: Colmar+32% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+22% | 40.4267 in total | 49.4336 in total | More per capita: Colmar+22% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+29% | 20.7137 in total | 16.0109 in total | More per capita: Bourges+29% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+40% | 2.919 in total | 2.114 in total | More per capita: Bourges+40% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+77% | 2.617 in total | 4.631 in total | More per capita: Colmar+77% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Colmar+2 | 1 | 3 | More stations: Colmar+2 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Colmar+35% | 3.3 | 4.4 | Better access: Colmar+35% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+31% | 7.046 in total | 9.162 in total | More per capita: Colmar+31% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar3.1 times as high | 8.657 in total | 26.3179 in total | More per capita: Colmar3.1 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+61% | 7.147 in total | 11.578 in total | More per capita: Colmar+61% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bourges+8% | 3.221 in total | 2.920 in total | More per capita: Bourges+8% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Colmar+6 | 8 | 14 | More facilities: Colmar+6 |
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 | Colmar | 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+6 | 15 | 9 | More high schools: Bourges+6 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Bourges+8 | 17 | 9 | More facilities: Bourges+8 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Bourges2.6 times as high | 9.5 | 3.7 | Higher rate: Bourges2.6 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Colmar+92% | 9.2 | 17.6 | Higher rate: Colmar+92% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Colmar+38% | 3.9 | 5.4 | Higher rate: Colmar+38% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourges+29% | 1.9 | 1.5 | Higher rate: Bourges+29% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bourges+45% | 15.9 | 11.0 | Higher rate: Bourges+45% |
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 | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Bourges+0.8 °C | 12.1°C | 11.3°C | Warmer: Bourges+0.8 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Bourges+0.4% | 1,889 | 1,882 | Sunnier: Bourges+0.4% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Bourges+33% | 743 | 558 | Wetter: Bourges+33% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Bourges+15 days/year | 117 | 102 | More rainy days: Bourges+15 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Colmar+23 days/year | 45 | 68 | More frost days: Colmar+23 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Colmar+2 days/year | 18 | 20 | More hot days: Colmar+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 | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Bourges+7 | 15 | 8 | More declarations: Bourges+7 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Colmar+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Colmar+1 |
| Radon potential | Low | Low, with aggravating factors |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Bourges+3% | 68.7 | 66.6 | Larger: Bourges+3% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Colmar+38 m | 154 m | 192 m | Higher: Colmar+38 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Cher (18) | Haut-Rhin (68) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Bourges Plus | Communauté d'agglomération Colmar Agglomération | |
| Urban unit | Bourges | Colmar | |
| Functional area | Bourges | Colmar |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Bourges vs Colmar at a glance
| Criterion | Bourges | Colmar |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 66,155 | 68,013 |
| Change over 10 years | −4.5% | −1.5% |
| Density per km² | 962 | 1,022 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,530 | not covered |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,761 | not covered |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.4 | 12.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 45.92% | 33.80% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,230 | 23,850 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.0% | 14.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.3 | 4.4 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.5 | 3.7 |
| Average temperature | 12.1°C | 11.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,889 | 1,882 |
| Area km² | 68.7 | 66.6 |
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FAQ
Bourges vs Colmar: your questions
Which is the larger city, Bourges or Colmar?
By population, Colmar: 68,013 inhabitants versus 66,155 for Bourges (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Colmar is the 79th largest city in France, Bourges the 82nd. By area, Bourges is the larger (68.7 km²).
How far is Bourges from Colmar?
Bourges and Colmar are 392 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is the standard of living higher, in Bourges or Colmar?
In Bourges, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,230 a year, versus €23,850 in Colmar (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Bourges or Colmar?
Bourges: 1,889 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,882 in Colmar (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Are Bourges and Colmar in the same department?
No: Bourges is in Cher (18), in the Centre-Val de Loire region, and Colmar in Haut-Rhin (68), in the Grand Est region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures