2026 comparison
Clermont-Ferrand vs Montluçon: 2026 comparison
Clermont-Ferrand has more inhabitants than Montluçon: 148,795 versus 34,107, or 4.4 times as many. Clermont-Ferrand is both larger (42.7 km² versus 20.7 km²) and more densely populated (3,487 inhabitants per km² versus 1,650).
The median apartment price is higher in Clermont-Ferrand: €2,143 per m² versus €651. The median standard of living is higher in Clermont-Ferrand (€22,640 a year versus €21,980).
The two cities are 73 km apart as the crow flies.
Clermont-Ferrand
City in Puy-de-Dôme
FPuy-de-Dôme63Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Population
- 148,795 inhab.
- 25th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 42.7 km²
- Density
- 3,487 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
Clermont-FerrandMontluçon
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Clermont-Ferrand4.4 times as high | 148,795 | 34,107 | More populous: Clermont-Ferrand4.4 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Clermont-Ferrand+4.9 pts | −0.3% | −5.1% | Smaller decline: Clermont-Ferrand+4.9 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Clermont-Ferrand+16 pts | +3.5% | −12.4% | Stronger growth: Clermont-Ferrand+16 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Clermont-Ferrand2.1 times as high | 3,487 | 1,650 | Denser: Clermont-Ferrand2.1 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Clermont-Ferrand+0.7 pt | 14.4% | 13.7% | More young people: Clermont-Ferrand+0.7 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Montluçon+11 pts | 17.0% | 27.9% | More seniors: Montluçon+11 pts |
| People per householdTie | 1.76 | 1.76 | Tie |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Clermont-Ferrand3.3 times as high | 2,143 | 651 | More expensive: Clermont-Ferrand3.3 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Clermont-Ferrand2.3 times as high | 2,489 | 1,103 | More expensive: Clermont-Ferrand2.3 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Clermont-Ferrand+41% | 12.5 | 8.9 | More expensive: Clermont-Ferrand+41% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Clermont-Ferrand+39% | 11.5 | 8.3 | More expensive: Clermont-Ferrand+39% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Montluçon+16 pts | 31.6% | 47.5% | More homeowners: Montluçon+16 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Montluçon+25 pts | 16.3% | 40.9% | More houses: Montluçon+25 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | — | 27.5% | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Clermont-Ferrand+2.6 pts | 5.6% | 3.1% | More second homes: Clermont-Ferrand+2.6 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Montluçon+14 pts | 9.7% | 24.1% | More vacant homes: Montluçon+14 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Montluçon+6.0 pts | 49.88% | 55.84% | Higher rate: Montluçon+6.0 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 | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Clermont-Ferrand+3% | 22,640 | 21,980 | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+3% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Clermont-Ferrand+1.1 pt | 27.0% | 25.9% | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+1.1 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Clermont-Ferrand+14% | €25,966 | €22,707 | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+14% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Clermont-Ferrand+6.5 pts | 44% | 37% | More taxpaying households: Clermont-Ferrand+6.5 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Montluçon+3.8 pts | 68.5% | 72.2% | Higher: Montluçon+3.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Montluçon+3.1 pts | 15.4% | 18.5% | Higher: Montluçon+3.1 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Julien Bony | Philippe Perche | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the right | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Montluçon+1.8 pt | 97% | 99% | Better covered: Montluçon+1.8 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Montluçon+26% | 70.01,042 in total | 88.5302 in total | More shops per capita: Montluçon+26% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+9% | 19.1284 in total | 20.871 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+9% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+41% | 50.5751 in total | 35.8122 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+41% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+46% | 17.7263 in total | 25.888 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+46% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon2.0 times as high | 1.726 in total | 3.512 in total | More per capita: Montluçon2.0 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+3% | 3.045 in total | 2.910 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+3% |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 3 | 3 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Clermont-Ferrand+28% | 4.1 | 3.2 | Better access: Clermont-Ferrand+28% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 8.2122 in total | 8.228 in total | Tie |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand2.4 times as high | 28.0416 in total | 11.439 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand2.4 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+30% | 8.4125 in total | 6.522 in total | More per capita: Clermont-Ferrand+30% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+43% | 3.552 in total | 5.017 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+43% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Clermont-Ferrand+13 | 16 | 3 | More facilities: Clermont-Ferrand+13 |
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 | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Clermont-Ferrand+50 | 71 | 21 | More schools: Clermont-Ferrand+50 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Clermont-Ferrand+11 | 16 | 5 | More middle schools: Clermont-Ferrand+11 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Clermont-Ferrand+16 | 23 | 7 | More high schools: Clermont-Ferrand+16 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Clermont-Ferrand+35 | 43 | 8 | More facilities: Clermont-Ferrand+35 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+29% | 6.9 | 5.3 | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+29% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+83% | 15.9 | 8.7 | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+83% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montluçon+28% | 4.3 | 5.5 | Higher rate: Montluçon+28% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+46% | 1.6 | 1.1 | Higher rate: Clermont-Ferrand+46% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montluçon+7% | 12.6 | 13.4 | Higher rate: Montluçon+7% |
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 | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Clermont-Ferrand+0.1 °C | 12.1°C | 12.0°C | Warmer: Clermont-Ferrand+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,958 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Montluçon+13% | 563 | 637 | Wetter: Montluçon+13% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Montluçon+17 days/year | 87 | 104 | More rainy days: Montluçon+17 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Montluçon+10 days/year | 56 | 66 | More frost days: Montluçon+10 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Montluçon+4 days/year | 22 | 26 | More hot days: Montluçon+4 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 | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Clermont-Ferrand+3 | 24 | 21 | More declarations: Clermont-Ferrand+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Significant | Significant | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Clermont-Ferrand2.1 times as high | 42.7 | 20.7 | Larger: Clermont-Ferrand2.1 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Clermont-Ferrand+192 m | 404 m | 212 m | Higher: Clermont-Ferrand+192 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | |
| Department | Puy-de-Dôme (63) | Allier (03) | |
| Intercommunality | Clermont Auvergne Métropole | Communauté d'agglomération Montluçon Communauté | |
| Urban unit | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon | |
| Functional area | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Clermont-Ferrand vs Montluçon at a glance
| Criterion | Clermont-Ferrand | Montluçon |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 148,795 | 34,107 |
| Change over 10 years | +3.5% | −12.4% |
| Density per km² | 3,487 | 1,650 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,143 | 651 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,489 | 1,103 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.5 | 8.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 49.88% | 55.84% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,640 | 21,980 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 15.4% | 18.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 99% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.9 | 5.3 |
| Average temperature | 12.1°C | 12.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,958 | — |
| Area km² | 42.7 | 20.7 |
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FAQ
Clermont-Ferrand vs Montluçon: your questions
Which is the larger city, Clermont-Ferrand or Montluçon?
By population, Clermont-Ferrand: 148,795 inhabitants versus 34,107 for Montluçon (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Clermont-Ferrand is the 25th largest city in France, Montluçon the 246th. By area, Clermont-Ferrand is also the larger (42.7 km²).
How far is Clermont-Ferrand from Montluçon?
Clermont-Ferrand and Montluçon are 73 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Clermont-Ferrand or Montluçon?
To buy an apartment, Clermont-Ferrand is more expensive: €2,143 per m² (median price), versus €651 in Montluçon (+229%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Clermont-Ferrand or Montluçon?
In Clermont-Ferrand, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,640 a year, versus €21,980 in Montluçon (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Clermont-Ferrand and Montluçon in the same department?
No: Clermont-Ferrand is in Puy-de-Dôme (63), and Montluçon in Allier (03), both in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures