2026 comparison
Carcassonne vs Castres (81): 2026 comparison
Carcassonne has more inhabitants than Castres: 47,153 versus 43,800, or 7.7% more. Castres covers a larger area (98.2 km² versus 65.1 km²), but Carcassonne is more densely populated: 725 inhabitants per km² versus 446.
The median apartment price is higher in Castres: €1,667 per m² versus €1,215. The median standard of living is higher in Castres (€23,620 a year versus €21,620).
The two cities are 46 km apart as the crow flies.
Carcassonne
City in Aude
- Population
- 47,153 inhab.
- 151st in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 65.1 km²
- Density
- 725 per km²
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Castres
City in Tarn
- Population
- 43,800 inhab.
- 176th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 98.2 km²
- Density
- 446 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
CarcassonneCastres
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Carcassonne+8% | 47,153 | 43,800 | More populous: Carcassonne+8% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Castres+2.6 pts | −0.9% | +1.7% | Stronger growth: Castres+2.6 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Castres+3.5 pts | −1.4% | +2.1% | Stronger growth: Castres+3.5 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Carcassonne+62% | 725 | 446 | Denser: Carcassonne+62% |
| Under 15More young people: Castres+0.7 pt | 14.5% | 15.1% | More young people: Castres+0.7 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Castres+0.6 pt | 26.2% | 26.7% | More seniors: Castres+0.6 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Castres+0.05 | 1.92 | 1.97 | Larger households: Castres+0.05 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Castres+37% | 1,215 | 1,667 | More expensive: Castres+37% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Carcassonne+1% | 1,628 | 1,607 | More expensive: Carcassonne+1% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Carcassonne+9% | 10.9 | 10.0 | More expensive: Carcassonne+9% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Carcassonne+27% | 10.1 | 8.0 | More expensive: Carcassonne+27% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Castres+7.5 pts | 47.0% | 54.4% | More homeowners: Castres+7.5 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Castres+9.2 pts | 49.9% | 59.1% | More houses: Castres+9.2 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Carcassonne+8.6 pts | 26.3% | 17.7% | More social housing: Carcassonne+8.6 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Carcassonne+3.7 pts | 6.7% | 3.0% | More second homes: Carcassonne+3.7 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Castres+1.4 pt | 9.3% | 10.7% | More vacant homes: Castres+1.4 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Carcassonne+11 pts | 72.67% | 61.38% | Higher rate: Carcassonne+11 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 | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Castres+9% | 21,620 | 23,620 | Higher: Castres+9% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Carcassonne+7.1 pts | 28.2% | 21.1% | Higher: Carcassonne+7.1 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Castres+11% | €24,265 | €26,981 | Higher: Castres+11% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Castres+3.4 pts | 37% | 40% | More taxpaying households: Castres+3.4 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Castres+2.7 pts | 69.9% | 72.6% | Higher: Castres+2.7 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Carcassonne+3.8 pts | 18.3% | 14.5% | Higher: Carcassonne+3.8 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Christophe Barthès | Florian Azéma | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | Rassemblement national | Rassemblement national | Same |
| Premises with fiberTie | 97% | 97% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Carcassonne+21% | 119.4563 in total | 98.6432 in total | More shops per capita: Carcassonne+21% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+25% | 32.4153 in total | 26.0114 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+25% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne2.0 times as high | 70.2331 in total | 34.7152 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne2.0 times as high |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+25% | 28.0132 in total | 22.498 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+25% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+32% | 3.617 in total | 2.712 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+32% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne3.4 times as high | 7.837 in total | 2.310 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne3.4 times as high |
| 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 | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Carcassonne+13% | 3.8 | 3.4 | Better access: Carcassonne+13% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Castres+30% | 7.234 in total | 9.441 in total | More per capita: Castres+30% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+30% | 26.7126 in total | 20.590 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+30% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+9% | 10.047 in total | 9.140 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+9% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+5% | 3.617 in total | 3.415 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+5% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Castres+2 | 7 | 9 | More facilities: Castres+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 | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Carcassonne+6 | 34 | 28 | More schools: Carcassonne+6 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Carcassonne+1 | 9 | 8 | More middle schools: Carcassonne+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Castres+1 | 9 | 10 | More high schools: Castres+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Castres+1 | 6 | 7 | More facilities: Castres+1 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Carcassonne+9% | 9.7 | 8.9 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+9% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Carcassonne+56% | 13.0 | 8.3 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+56% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Carcassonne+78% | 7.4 | 4.2 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+78% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Carcassonne3.5 times as high | 3.2 | 0.9 | Higher rate: Carcassonne3.5 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Carcassonne+63% | 14.0 | 8.6 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+63% |
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 | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Carcassonne+0.6 °C | 14.4°C | 13.8°C | Warmer: Carcassonne+0.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,170 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Castres+35% | 665 | 896 | Wetter: Castres+35% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Castres+21 days/year | 88 | 109 | More rainy days: Castres+21 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Castres+12 days/year | 21 | 32 | More frost days: Castres+12 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Castres+3 days/year | 35 | 38 | More hot days: Castres+3 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 | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Castres+8 | 28 | 36 | More declarations: Castres+8 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Castres+51% | 65.1 | 98.2 | Larger: Castres+51% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Castres+67 m | 104 m | 171 m | Higher: Castres+67 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| Department | Aude (11) | Tarn (81) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Carcassonne Agglo | Communauté d'agglomération de Castres Mazamet | |
| Urban unit | Carcassonne | Castres | |
| Functional area | Carcassonne | Castres |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Carcassonne vs Castres (81) at a glance
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Castres |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 47,153 | 43,800 |
| Change over 10 years | −1.4% | +2.1% |
| Density per km² | 725 | 446 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,215 | 1,667 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,628 | 1,607 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 10.9 | 10.0 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 72.67% | 61.38% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,620 | 23,620 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 18.3% | 14.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.7 | 8.9 |
| Average temperature | 14.4°C | 13.8°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,170 | — |
| Area km² | 65.1 | 98.2 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Carcassonne vs Castres (81): your questions
Which is the larger city, Carcassonne or Castres?
By population, Carcassonne: 47,153 inhabitants versus 43,800 for Castres (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Carcassonne is the 151st largest city in France, Castres the 176th. By area, Castres is the larger (98.2 km²).
How far is Carcassonne from Castres?
Carcassonne and Castres are 46 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Carcassonne or Castres?
To buy an apartment, Castres is more expensive: €1,667 per m² (median price), versus €1,215 in Carcassonne (+37%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Carcassonne or Castres?
In Castres, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,620 a year, versus €21,620 in Carcassonne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Carcassonne and Castres in the same department?
No: Carcassonne is in Aude (11), and Castres in Tarn (81), both in the Occitanie region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures