2026 comparison
Châteauroux vs Montluçon: 2026 comparison
Châteauroux has more inhabitants than Montluçon: 44,536 versus 34,107, or 31% more. Châteauroux is both larger (25.5 km² versus 20.7 km²) and more densely populated (1,744 inhabitants per km² versus 1,650).
The median apartment price is higher in Châteauroux: €1,154 per m² versus €651. The median standard of living is higher in Châteauroux (€22,710 a year versus €21,980).
The two cities are 87 km apart as the crow flies.
Châteauroux
City in Indre
- Population
- 44,536 inhab.
- 168th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 25.5 km²
- Density
- 1,744 per km²
© Lionel Allorge, CC BY-SA 3.0
Montluçon
City in Allier
- Population
- 34,107 inhab.
- 246th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 20.7 km²
- Density
- 1,650 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
ChâteaurouxMontluçon
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Châteauroux+31% | 44,536 | 34,107 | More populous: Châteauroux+31% |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Châteauroux+4.0 pts | −1.1% | −5.1% | Smaller decline: Châteauroux+4.0 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Châteauroux+7.4 pts | −5.0% | −12.4% | Smaller decline: Châteauroux+7.4 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Châteauroux+6% | 1,744 | 1,650 | Denser: Châteauroux+6% |
| Under 15More young people: Châteauroux+2.3 pts | 15.9% | 13.7% | More young people: Châteauroux+2.3 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Montluçon+2.1 pts | 25.8% | 27.9% | More seniors: Montluçon+2.1 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Châteauroux+0.12 | 1.88 | 1.76 | Larger households: Châteauroux+0.12 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Châteauroux+77% | 1,154 | 651 | More expensive: Châteauroux+77% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Châteauroux+31% | 1,442 | 1,103 | More expensive: Châteauroux+31% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Châteauroux+17% | 10.3 | 8.9 | More expensive: Châteauroux+17% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Châteauroux+3% | 8.5 | 8.3 | More expensive: Châteauroux+3% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Montluçon+0.6 pt | 46.8% | 47.5% | More homeowners: Montluçon+0.6 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Châteauroux+7.7 pts | 48.7% | 40.9% | More houses: Châteauroux+7.7 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Châteauroux+10 pts | 37.8% | 27.5% | More social housing: Châteauroux+10 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Montluçon+0.4 pt | 2.7% | 3.1% | More second homes: Montluçon+0.4 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Montluçon+11 pts | 12.9% | 24.1% | More vacant homes: Montluçon+11 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Montluçon+10 pts | 45.78% | 55.84% | Higher rate: Montluçon+10 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 | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Châteauroux+3% | 22,710 | 21,980 | Higher: Châteauroux+3% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Montluçon+2.4 pts | 23.5% | 25.9% | Higher: Montluçon+2.4 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Châteauroux+9% | €24,826 | €22,707 | Higher: Châteauroux+9% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Châteauroux+4.0 pts | 41% | 37% | More taxpaying households: Châteauroux+4.0 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Châteauroux+0.5 pt | 72.7% | 72.2% | Higher: Châteauroux+0.5 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Montluçon+3.7 pts | 14.8% | 18.5% | Higher: Montluçon+3.7 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Gil Avérous | Philippe Perche | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous right | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Montluçon+1.2 pt | 98% | 99% | Better covered: Montluçon+1.2 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Montluçon+47% | 60.2268 in total | 88.5302 in total | More shops per capita: Montluçon+47% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+13% | 18.482 in total | 20.871 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+13% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+21% | 29.6132 in total | 35.8122 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+21% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châteauroux+65% | 42.7190 in total | 25.888 in total | More per capita: Châteauroux+65% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+42% | 2.511 in total | 3.512 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+42% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+45% | 2.09 in total | 2.910 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+45% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Montluçon+2 | 1 | 3 | More stations: Montluçon+2 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Montluçon+10% | 2.9 | 3.2 | Better access: Montluçon+10% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+11% | 7.433 in total | 8.228 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+11% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châteauroux2.1 times as high | 23.8106 in total | 11.439 in total | More per capita: Châteauroux2.1 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+44% | 4.520 in total | 6.522 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+44% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+59% | 3.114 in total | 5.017 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+59% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Châteauroux+3 | 6 | 3 | More facilities: Châteauroux+3 |
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 | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Châteauroux+10 | 31 | 21 | More schools: Châteauroux+10 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Châteauroux+4 | 9 | 5 | More middle schools: Châteauroux+4 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Châteauroux+1 | 8 | 7 | More high schools: Châteauroux+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Châteauroux+4 | 12 | 8 | More facilities: Châteauroux+4 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Montluçon+35% | 3.9 | 5.3 | Higher rate: Montluçon+35% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châteauroux+9% | 9.5 | 8.7 | Higher rate: Châteauroux+9% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montluçon+19% | 4.6 | 5.5 | Higher rate: Montluçon+19% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châteauroux+58% | 1.8 | 1.1 | Higher rate: Châteauroux+58% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châteauroux+5% | 14.1 | 13.4 | Higher rate: Châteauroux+5% |
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 | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Châteauroux+0.2 °C | 12.2°C | 12.0°C | Warmer: Châteauroux+0.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,891 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Châteauroux+28% | 816 | 637 | Wetter: Châteauroux+28% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Châteauroux+19 days/year | 123 | 104 | More rainy days: Châteauroux+19 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Montluçon+16 days/year | 50 | 66 | More frost days: Montluçon+16 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Montluçon+5 days/year | 22 | 26 | More hot days: Montluçon+5 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 | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Montluçon+3 | 18 | 21 | More declarations: Montluçon+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Châteauroux+24% | 25.5 | 20.7 | Larger: Châteauroux+24% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Montluçon+57 m | 155 m | 212 m | Higher: Montluçon+57 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| Department | Indre (36) | Allier (03) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Châteauroux Métropole | Communauté d'agglomération Montluçon Communauté | |
| Urban unit | Châteauroux | Montluçon | |
| Functional area | Châteauroux | Montluçon |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Châteauroux vs Montluçon at a glance
| Criterion | Châteauroux | Montluçon |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 44,536 | 34,107 |
| Change over 10 years | −5.0% | −12.4% |
| Density per km² | 1,744 | 1,650 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,154 | 651 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,442 | 1,103 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 10.3 | 8.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 45.78% | 55.84% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,710 | 21,980 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.8% | 18.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 99% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 3.9 | 5.3 |
| Average temperature | 12.2°C | 12.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,891 | — |
| Area km² | 25.5 | 20.7 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Châteauroux vs Montluçon: your questions
Which is the larger city, Châteauroux or Montluçon?
By population, Châteauroux: 44,536 inhabitants versus 34,107 for Montluçon (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Châteauroux is the 168th largest city in France, Montluçon the 246th. By area, Châteauroux is also the larger (25.5 km²).
How far is Châteauroux from Montluçon?
Châteauroux and Montluçon are 87 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Châteauroux or Montluçon?
To buy an apartment, Châteauroux is more expensive: €1,154 per m² (median price), versus €651 in Montluçon (+77%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Châteauroux or Montluçon?
In Châteauroux, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,710 a year, versus €21,980 in Montluçon (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Châteauroux and Montluçon in the same department?
No: Châteauroux is in Indre (36), in the Centre-Val de Loire region, and Montluçon in Allier (03), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures