2026 comparison
Brest vs Le Mans: 2026 comparison
Le Mans has more inhabitants than Brest: 148,876 versus 144,890, or 2.8% more. Le Mans covers a larger area (52.8 km² versus 49.5 km²), but Brest is more densely populated: 2,926 inhabitants per km² versus 2,819.
The median apartment price is higher in Brest: €2,087 per m² versus €1,875. The median standard of living is higher in Brest (€24,030 a year versus €23,610).
The two cities are 351 km apart as the crow flies.
Brest
City in Finistère
- Population
- 144,890 inhab.
- 26th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 49.5 km²
- Density
- 2,926 per km²
Le Mans
City in Sarthe
- Population
- 148,876 inhab.
- 24th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 52.8 km²
- Density
- 2,819 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BrestLe Mans
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Le Mans+3% | 144,890 | 148,876 | More populous: Le Mans+3% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Le Mans+0.1 pt | +2.0% | +2.1% | Stronger growth: Le Mans+0.1 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Brest+0.7 pt | +2.1% | +1.4% | Stronger growth: Brest+0.7 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Brest+4% | 2,926 | 2,819 | Denser: Brest+4% |
| Under 15More young people: Le Mans+2.4 pts | 13.9% | 16.3% | More young people: Le Mans+2.4 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Le Mans+4.5 pts | 17.6% | 22.2% | More seniors: Le Mans+4.5 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Le Mans+0.14 | 1.78 | 1.92 | Larger households: Le Mans+0.14 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Brest+11% | 2,087 | 1,875 | More expensive: Brest+11% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Brest+11% | 2,397 | 2,153 | More expensive: Brest+11% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Brest+4% | 12.2 | 11.8 | More expensive: Brest+4% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Brest+11% | 10.8 | 9.8 | More expensive: Brest+11% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Le Mans+2.0 pts | 42.6% | 44.7% | More homeowners: Le Mans+2.0 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Le Mans+16 pts | 24.7% | 40.6% | More houses: Le Mans+16 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | 28.3% | — | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Brest+0.6 pt | 4.1% | 3.4% | More second homes: Brest+0.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Le Mans+3.0 pts | 6.5% | 9.5% | More vacant homes: Le Mans+3.0 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Le Mans+4.0 pts | 43.83% | 47.80% | Higher rate: Le Mans+4.0 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 | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Brest+2% | 24,030 | 23,610 | Higher: Brest+2% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Le Mans+2.6 pts | 20.3% | 22.9% | Higher: Le Mans+2.6 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Le Mans+3% | €26,140 | €26,832 | Higher: Le Mans+3% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Brest+2.2 pts | 46% | 43% | More taxpaying households: Brest+2.2 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Le Mans+3.2 pts | 70.0% | 73.1% | Higher: Le Mans+3.2 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Le Mans+2.3 pts | 13.5% | 15.7% | Higher: Le Mans+2.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Stéphane Roudaut | Stéphane Le Foll | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | Socialist Party | |
| 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 | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Brest+7% | 55.4803 in total | 51.7769 in total | More shops per capita: Brest+7% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Le Mans+17% | 14.1205 in total | 16.6247 in total | More per capita: Le Mans+17% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest+15% | 29.5427 in total | 25.7382 in total | More per capita: Brest+15% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest+17% | 24.4354 in total | 20.9311 in total | More per capita: Brest+17% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest+3% | 1.623 in total | 1.523 in total | More per capita: Brest+3% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest+6% | 2.130 in total | 1.929 in total | More per capita: Brest+6% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Le Mans+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Le Mans+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Brest+59% | 5.3 | 3.3 | Better access: Brest+59% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest2.1 times as high | 12.3178 in total | 5.887 in total | More per capita: Brest2.1 times as high |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest+12% | 26.2379 in total | 23.3347 in total | More per capita: Brest+12% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Brest+32% | 7.5109 in total | 5.785 in total | More per capita: Brest+32% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Le Mans+14% | 2.536 in total | 2.842 in total | More per capita: Le Mans+14% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Brest+1 | 18 | 17 | More facilities: Brest+1 |
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 | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Le Mans+27 | 59 | 86 | More schools: Le Mans+27 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Le Mans+6 | 21 | 27 | More middle schools: Le Mans+6 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Brest+3 | 22 | 19 | More high schools: Brest+3 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Brest+13 | 40 | 27 | More facilities: Brest+13 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Le Mans+55% | 4.7 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Le Mans+55% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Brest+13% | 11.3 | 9.9 | Higher rate: Brest+13% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Le Mans+6% | 4.6 | 4.9 | Higher rate: Le Mans+6% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Brest+50% | 2.2 | 1.5 | Higher rate: Brest+50% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Brest+22% | 11.6 | 9.5 | Higher rate: Brest+22% |
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 | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Le Mans+0.7 °C | 11.7°C | 12.4°C | Warmer: Le Mans+0.7 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Le Mans+16% | 1,555 | 1,809 | Sunnier: Le Mans+16% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Brest+77% | 1,230 | 693 | Wetter: Brest+77% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Brest+47 days/year | 160 | 112 | More rainy days: Brest+47 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Le Mans+25 days/year | 14 | 40 | More frost days: Le Mans+25 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Le Mans+15 days/year | 1 | 15 | More hot days: Le Mans+15 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 | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Le Mans+12 | 17 | 29 | More declarations: Le Mans+12 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Le Mans+1 | 0 | 1 | More plans: Le Mans+1 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Le Mans+7% | 49.5 | 52.8 | Larger: Le Mans+7% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Le Mans+10 m | 54 m | 64 m | Higher: Le Mans+10 m |
| Coastal commune | Yes (sea) | No | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Finistère (29) | Sarthe (72) | |
| Intercommunality | Brest Métropole | Communauté urbaine Le Mans Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Brest | Le Mans | |
| Functional area | Brest | Le Mans |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Brest vs Le Mans at a glance
| Criterion | Brest | Le Mans |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 144,890 | 148,876 |
| Change over 10 years | +2.1% | +1.4% |
| Density per km² | 2,926 | 2,819 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,087 | 1,875 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,397 | 2,153 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.2 | 11.8 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 43.83% | 47.80% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,030 | 23,610 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 13.5% | 15.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.3 | 3.3 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.7 | 7.2 |
| Average temperature | 11.7°C | 12.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,555 | 1,809 |
| Area km² | 49.5 | 52.8 |
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FAQ
Brest vs Le Mans: your questions
Which is the larger city, Brest or Le Mans?
By population, Le Mans: 148,876 inhabitants versus 144,890 for Brest (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Le Mans is the 24th largest city in France, Brest the 26th. By area, Le Mans is also the larger (52.8 km²).
How far is Brest from Le Mans?
Brest and Le Mans are 351 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Brest or Le Mans?
To buy an apartment, Brest is more expensive: €2,087 per m² (median price), versus €1,875 in Le Mans (+11%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Brest or Le Mans?
In Brest, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,030 a year, versus €23,610 in Le Mans (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Brest or Le Mans?
Le Mans: 1,809 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,555 in Brest (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