2026 comparison
Carcassonne vs Narbonne: 2026 comparison
Narbonne has more inhabitants than Carcassonne: 58,669 versus 47,153, or 24% more. Narbonne covers a larger area (173 km² versus 65.1 km²), but Carcassonne is more densely populated: 725 inhabitants per km² versus 339.
The median apartment price is higher in Narbonne: €2,176 per m² versus €1,215. The median standard of living is higher in Narbonne (€22,220 a year versus €21,620).
The two cities are 56 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Carcassonne
City in Aude
- Population
- 47,153 inhab.
- 151st in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 65.1 km²
- Density
- 725 per km²
Narbonne
City in Aude
- Population
- 58,669 inhab.
- 104th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 173 km²
- Density
- 339 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
CarcassonneNarbonne
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Narbonne+24% | 47,153 | 58,669 | More populous: Narbonne+24% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Narbonne+4.9 pts | −0.9% | +4.0% | Stronger growth: Narbonne+4.9 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Narbonne+10 pts | −1.4% | +9.1% | Stronger growth: Narbonne+10 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Carcassonne2.1 times as high | 725 | 339 | Denser: Carcassonne2.1 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Narbonne+0.5 pt | 14.5% | 15.0% | More young people: Narbonne+0.5 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Narbonne+0.4 pt | 26.2% | 26.6% | More seniors: Narbonne+0.4 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Carcassonne+0.05 | 1.92 | 1.87 | Larger households: Carcassonne+0.05 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Narbonne+79% | 1,215 | 2,176 | More expensive: Narbonne+79% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Narbonne+63% | 1,628 | 2,655 | More expensive: Narbonne+63% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Narbonne+5% | 10.9 | 11.5 | More expensive: Narbonne+5% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Narbonne+22% | 10.1 | 12.4 | More expensive: Narbonne+22% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Carcassonne+3.5 pts | 47.0% | 43.5% | More homeowners: Carcassonne+3.5 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Carcassonne+11 pts | 49.9% | 39.3% | More houses: Carcassonne+11 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Carcassonne+1.7 pt | 26.3% | 24.7% | More social housing: Carcassonne+1.7 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Narbonne+11 pts | 6.7% | 17.6% | More second homes: Narbonne+11 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Carcassonne+2.7 pts | 9.3% | 6.7% | More vacant homes: Carcassonne+2.7 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Carcassonne+11 pts | 72.67% | 61.62% | 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 | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Narbonne+3% | 21,620 | 22,220 | Higher: Narbonne+3% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Carcassonne+2.3 pts | 28.2% | 25.9% | Higher: Carcassonne+2.3 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Narbonne+4% | €24,265 | €25,205 | Higher: Narbonne+4% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Narbonne+0.7 pt | 37% | 38% | More taxpaying households: Narbonne+0.7 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Narbonne+0.5 pt | 69.9% | 70.4% | Higher: Narbonne+0.5 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Carcassonne+0.3 pt | 18.3% | 18.0% | Higher: Carcassonne+0.3 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Christophe Barthès | Bertrand Malquier | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | Rassemblement national | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Carcassonne+3.6 pts | 97% | 93% | Better covered: Carcassonne+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 | Carcassonne | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Carcassonne+23% | 119.4563 in total | 97.2570 in total | More shops per capita: Carcassonne+23% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+18% | 32.4153 in total | 27.6162 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+18% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+27% | 70.2331 in total | 55.2324 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+27% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+87% | 28.0132 in total | 15.088 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+87% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+63% | 3.617 in total | 2.213 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+63% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+84% | 7.837 in total | 4.325 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+84% |
| 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 | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Narbonne+25% | 3.8 | 4.7 | Better access: Narbonne+25% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Narbonne+44% | 7.234 in total | 10.461 in total | More per capita: Narbonne+44% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+94% | 26.7126 in total | 13.881 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+94% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+3% | 10.047 in total | 9.757 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+3% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Carcassonne+6% | 3.617 in total | 3.420 in total | More per capita: Carcassonne+6% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Narbonne+5 | 7 | 12 | More facilities: Narbonne+5 |
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 | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Narbonne+1 | 34 | 35 | More schools: Narbonne+1 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Narbonne+1 | 9 | 10 | More middle schools: Narbonne+1 |
| High schoolsTie | 9 | 9 | Tie |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Narbonne+4 | 6 | 10 | More facilities: Narbonne+4 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Carcassonne+23% | 9.7 | 7.9 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+23% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Narbonne+16% | 13.0 | 15.0 | Higher rate: Narbonne+16% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Carcassonne+58% | 7.4 | 4.7 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+58% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Carcassonne+29% | 3.2 | 2.5 | Higher rate: Carcassonne+29% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Narbonne+25% | 14.0 | 17.5 | Higher rate: Narbonne+25% |
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 | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Narbonne+0.9 °C | 14.4°C | 15.3°C | Warmer: Narbonne+0.9 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,170 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Carcassonne+5% | 665 | 635 | Wetter: Carcassonne+5% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Carcassonne+27 days/year | 88 | 61 | More rainy days: Carcassonne+27 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Carcassonne+11 days/year | 21 | 9 | More frost days: Carcassonne+11 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Carcassonne+0 days/year | 35 | 34 | More hot days: Carcassonne+0 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 | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Narbonne+7 | 28 | 35 | More declarations: Narbonne+7 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Narbonne+1 | 2 | 3 | More plans: Narbonne+1 |
| Radon potential | Low | Low, with aggravating factors |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Narbonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Narbonne2.7 times as high | 65.1 | 173 | Larger: Narbonne2.7 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Carcassonne+97 m | 104 m | 7 m | Higher: Carcassonne+97 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Aude (11) | Aude (11) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Carcassonne Agglo | Communauté d'agglomération Le Grand Narbonne | |
| Urban unit | Carcassonne | Narbonne | |
| Functional area | Carcassonne | Narbonne |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Carcassonne vs Narbonne at a glance
| Criterion | Carcassonne | Narbonne |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 47,153 | 58,669 |
| Change over 10 years | −1.4% | +9.1% |
| Density per km² | 725 | 339 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,215 | 2,176 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,628 | 2,655 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 10.9 | 11.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 72.67% | 61.62% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,620 | 22,220 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 18.3% | 18.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 93% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.7 | 7.9 |
| Average temperature | 14.4°C | 15.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,170 | — |
| Area km² | 65.1 | 173 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Carcassonne vs Narbonne: your questions
Which is the larger city, Carcassonne or Narbonne?
By population, Narbonne: 58,669 inhabitants versus 47,153 for Carcassonne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Narbonne is the 104th largest city in France, Carcassonne the 151st. By area, Narbonne is also the larger (173 km²).
How far is Carcassonne from Narbonne?
Carcassonne and Narbonne are 56 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Aude).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Carcassonne or Narbonne?
To buy an apartment, Narbonne is more expensive: €2,176 per m² (median price), versus €1,215 in Carcassonne (+79%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Carcassonne or Narbonne?
In Narbonne, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,220 a year, versus €21,620 in Carcassonne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Carcassonne and Narbonne in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Aude (11), in the Occitanie region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures