2026 comparison
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin vs Saint-Brieuc: 2026 comparison
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin has more inhabitants than Saint-Brieuc: 80,317 versus 45,736, or 76% more. Cherbourg-en-Cotentin covers a larger area (68.5 km² versus 21.9 km²), but Saint-Brieuc is more densely populated: 2,090 inhabitants per km² versus 1,172.
The median apartment price is higher in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin: €2,192 per m² versus €1,671. The median standard of living is higher in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (€25,450 a year versus €23,440).
The two cities are 149 km apart as the crow flies.
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
City in Manche
- Population
- 80,317 inhab.
- 63rd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 68.5 km²
- Density
- 1,172 per km²
Saint-Brieuc
City in Côtes-d'Armor
- Population
- 45,736 inhab.
- 161st in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 21.9 km²
- Density
- 2,090 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Cherbourg-en-CotentinSaint-Brieuc
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+76% | 80,317 | 45,736 | More populous: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+76% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Brieuc+1.6 pt | −1.1% | +0.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Brieuc+1.6 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Saint-Brieuc+1.2 pt | −3.4% | −2.1% | Smaller decline: Saint-Brieuc+1.2 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-Brieuc+78% | 1,172 | 2,090 | Denser: Saint-Brieuc+78% |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Brieuc+0.3 pt | 15.1% | 15.4% | More young people: Saint-Brieuc+0.3 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Brieuc+1.5 pt | 21.9% | 23.3% | More seniors: Saint-Brieuc+1.5 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+0.09 | 1.90 | 1.81 | Larger households: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+0.09 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+31% | 2,192 | 1,671 | More expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+31% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+17% | 2,296 | 1,965 | More expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+17% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+11% | 12.6 | 11.4 | More expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+11% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+8% | 10.5 | 9.7 | More expensive: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+8% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Brieuc+4.4 pts | 44.6% | 48.9% | More homeowners: Saint-Brieuc+4.4 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+12 pts | 50.2% | 38.4% | More houses: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+12 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+14 pts | 41.2% | 26.7% | More social housing: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+14 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Brieuc+1.4 pt | 3.6% | 5.0% | More second homes: Saint-Brieuc+1.4 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Brieuc+4.5 pts | 5.9% | 10.4% | More vacant homes: Saint-Brieuc+4.5 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+2.9 pts | 52.57% | 49.66% | Higher rate: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+2.9 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 | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+9% | 25,450 | 23,440 | Higher: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+9% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Brieuc+7.5 pts | 14.9% | 22.4% | Higher: Saint-Brieuc+7.5 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+18% | €29,269 | €24,792 | Higher: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+18% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+8.0 pts | 49% | 41% | More taxpaying households: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+8.0 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+2.9 pts | 75.5% | 72.6% | Higher: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+2.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Brieuc+3.3 pts | 11.0% | 14.3% | Higher: Saint-Brieuc+3.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Camille Margueritte | Victor Bonnot | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous right | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Brieuc+3.1 pts | 95% | 98% | Better covered: Saint-Brieuc+3.1 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+9% | 66.4533 in total | 61.0279 in total | More shops per capita: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+9% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+9% | 19.3155 in total | 17.781 in total | More per capita: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+9% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+65% | 22.7182 in total | 37.4171 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+65% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+55% | 19.4156 in total | 30.2138 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+55% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+37% | 2.218 in total | 3.114 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+37% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+19% | 2.923 in total | 2.411 in total | More per capita: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+19% |
| 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 | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Brieuc+5% | 3.4 | 3.6 | Better access: Saint-Brieuc+5% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+4% | 8.064 in total | 8.338 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+4% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+61% | 9.274 in total | 14.968 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+61% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+71% | 4.536 in total | 7.735 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+71% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+10% | 3.024 in total | 3.315 in total | More per capita: Saint-Brieuc+10% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+2 | 11 | 9 | More facilities: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+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 | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+19 | 47 | 28 | More schools: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+19 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+3 | 13 | 10 | More middle schools: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+3 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Brieuc+2 | 10 | 12 | More high schools: Saint-Brieuc+2 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Brieuc+2 | 13 | 15 | More facilities: Saint-Brieuc+2 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.4 times as high | 1.8 | 4.4 | Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.4 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.2 times as high | 6.3 | 13.9 | Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.2 times as high | 2.8 | 6.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.2 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.2 times as high | 0.6 | 1.4 | Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc2.2 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc+65% | 9.0 | 14.9 | Higher rate: Saint-Brieuc+65% |
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 | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+0.7 °C | 12.1°C | 11.4°C | Warmer: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+0.7 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,616 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+27% | 964 | 757 | Wetter: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+27% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+5 days/year | 135 | 130 | More rainy days: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+5 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saint-Brieuc+12 days/year | 5 | 17 | More frost days: Saint-Brieuc+12 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Brieuc+1 days/year | 0 | 1 | More hot days: Saint-Brieuc+1 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 | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+1 | 13 | 12 | More declarations: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Significant | Significant | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin3.1 times as high | 68.5 | 21.9 | Larger: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin3.1 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Brieuc+70 m | 6 m | 76 m | Higher: Saint-Brieuc+70 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Manche (50) | Côtes-d'Armor (22) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Cotentin | Communauté d'agglomération Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomération | |
| Urban unit | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc | |
| Functional area | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin vs Saint-Brieuc at a glance
| Criterion | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Saint-Brieuc |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 80,317 | 45,736 |
| Change over 10 years | −3.4% | −2.1% |
| Density per km² | 1,172 | 2,090 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,192 | 1,671 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,296 | 1,965 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.6 | 11.4 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 52.57% | 49.66% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 25,450 | 23,440 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 11.0% | 14.3% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 1.8 | 4.4 |
| Average temperature | 12.1°C | 11.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,616 |
| Area km² | 68.5 | 21.9 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin vs Saint-Brieuc: your questions
Which is the larger city, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin or Saint-Brieuc?
By population, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin: 80,317 inhabitants versus 45,736 for Saint-Brieuc (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is the 63rd largest city in France, Saint-Brieuc the 161st. By area, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is also the larger (68.5 km²).
How far is Cherbourg-en-Cotentin from Saint-Brieuc?
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Saint-Brieuc are 149 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin or Saint-Brieuc?
To buy an apartment, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is more expensive: €2,192 per m² (median price), versus €1,671 in Saint-Brieuc (+31%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin or Saint-Brieuc?
In Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,450 a year, versus €23,440 in Saint-Brieuc (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Saint-Brieuc in the same department?
No: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is in Manche (50), in the Normandy region, and Saint-Brieuc in Côtes-d'Armor (22), in the Brittany region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures