2026 comparison
Lorient vs Quimper: 2026 comparison
Quimper has more inhabitants than Lorient: 66,579 versus 59,856, or 11% more. Quimper covers a larger area (84.5 km² versus 17.5 km²), but Lorient is more densely populated: 3,424 inhabitants per km² versus 788.
The median apartment price is higher in Lorient: €2,499 per m² versus €2,058. The median standard of living is higher in Quimper (€25,490 a year versus €23,810).
The two cities are 60 km apart as the crow flies.
Lorient
City in Morbihan
- Population
- 59,856 inhab.
- 100th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 17.5 km²
- Density
- 3,424 per km²
Quimper
City in Finistère
- Population
- 66,579 inhab.
- 81st in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 84.5 km²
- Density
- 788 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
LorientQuimper
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Quimper+11% | 59,856 | 66,579 | More populous: Quimper+11% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Lorient+0.3 pt | +2.2% | +1.9% | Stronger growth: Lorient+0.3 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Quimper+0.7 pt | +0.6% | +1.3% | Stronger growth: Quimper+0.7 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Lorient4.3 times as high | 3,424 | 788 | Denser: Lorient4.3 times as high |
| Under 15Tie | 13.8% | 13.8% | Tie |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Lorient+0.2 pt | 22.8% | 22.6% | More seniors: Lorient+0.2 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Quimper+0.03 | 1.76 | 1.79 | Larger households: Quimper+0.03 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Lorient+21% | 2,499 | 2,058 | More expensive: Lorient+21% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Lorient+30% | 2,906 | 2,239 | More expensive: Lorient+30% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lorient+12% | 13.4 | 12.0 | More expensive: Lorient+12% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lorient+13% | 12.6 | 11.1 | More expensive: Lorient+13% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Quimper+12 pts | 42.7% | 55.0% | More homeowners: Quimper+12 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Quimper+20 pts | 25.2% | 45.6% | More houses: Quimper+20 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Lorient+6.5 pts | 31.2% | 24.7% | More social housing: Lorient+6.5 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Lorient+0.6 pt | 3.8% | 3.3% | More second homes: Lorient+0.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Quimper+0.7 pt | 7.4% | 8.1% | More vacant homes: Quimper+0.7 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Lorient+6.3 pts | 48.61% | 42.29% | Higher rate: Lorient+6.3 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 | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Quimper+7% | 23,810 | 25,490 | Higher: Quimper+7% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Lorient+7.0 pts | 21.5% | 14.5% | Higher: Lorient+7.0 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Quimper+10% | €26,017 | €28,622 | Higher: Quimper+10% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Quimper+3.3 pts | 44% | 47% | More taxpaying households: Quimper+3.3 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Quimper+2.7 pts | 72.0% | 74.7% | Higher: Quimper+2.7 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Lorient+1.4 pt | 14.1% | 12.7% | Higher: Lorient+1.4 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Fabrice Loher | Isabelle Assih | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous centre | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Lorient+0.9 pt | 96% | 95% | Better covered: Lorient+0.9 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Lorient+3% | 97.6584 in total | 94.6630 in total | More shops per capita: Lorient+3% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lorient+2% | 23.9143 in total | 23.4156 in total | More per capita: Lorient+2% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lorient+6% | 41.9251 in total | 39.7264 in total | More per capita: Lorient+6% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+22% | 19.9119 in total | 24.2161 in total | More per capita: Quimper+22% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+53% | 1.710 in total | 2.617 in total | More per capita: Quimper+53% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+14% | 2.515 in total | 2.919 in total | More per capita: Quimper+14% |
| 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 | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Quimper+6% | 4.5 | 4.7 | Better access: Quimper+6% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+18% | 10.261 in total | 12.080 in total | More per capita: Quimper+18% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+50% | 16.599 in total | 24.8165 in total | More per capita: Quimper+50% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+22% | 10.764 in total | 13.187 in total | More per capita: Quimper+22% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lorient+7% | 3.823 in total | 3.624 in total | More per capita: Lorient+7% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Quimper+13 | 11 | 24 | More facilities: Quimper+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 | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Quimper+1 | 28 | 29 | More schools: Quimper+1 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Quimper+4 | 7 | 11 | More middle schools: Quimper+4 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Quimper+6 | 7 | 13 | More high schools: Quimper+6 |
| Higher education institutions and programsTie | 16 | 16 | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Quimper+51% | 3.7 | 5.6 | Higher rate: Quimper+51% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lorient+91% | 12.5 | 6.6 | Higher rate: Lorient+91% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lorient+32% | 5.9 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Lorient+32% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lorient+26% | 1.7 | 1.4 | Higher rate: Lorient+26% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lorient+47% | 13.8 | 9.4 | Higher rate: Lorient+47% |
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 | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Lorient+0.1 °C | 12.2°C | 12.1°C | Warmer: Lorient+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Lorient+9% | 1,865 | 1,708 | Sunnier: Lorient+9% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Quimper+29% | 943 | 1,214 | Wetter: Quimper+29% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Quimper+20 days/year | 130 | 150 | More rainy days: Quimper+20 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Lorient+7 days/year | 22 | 16 | More frost days: Lorient+7 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Lorient+1 days/year | 3 | 2 | More hot days: Lorient+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 | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Quimper+8 | 8 | 16 | More declarations: Quimper+8 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Quimper+1 | 0 | 1 | More plans: Quimper+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Significant | Significant | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Quimper4.8 times as high | 17.5 | 84.5 | Larger: Quimper4.8 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Lorient+0 m | 6 m | 5 m | Higher: Lorient+0 m |
| Coastal commune | Yes (sea) | No | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Morbihan (56) | Finistère (29) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Lorient Agglomération | Communauté d'agglomération Quimper Bretagne Occidentale | |
| Urban unit | Lorient | Quimper | |
| Functional area | Lorient | Quimper |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Lorient vs Quimper at a glance
| Criterion | Lorient | Quimper |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 59,856 | 66,579 |
| Change over 10 years | +0.6% | +1.3% |
| Density per km² | 3,424 | 788 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,499 | 2,058 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,906 | 2,239 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.4 | 12.0 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.61% | 42.29% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,810 | 25,490 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.1% | 12.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 3.7 | 5.6 |
| Average temperature | 12.2°C | 12.1°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,865 | 1,708 |
| Area km² | 17.5 | 84.5 |
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FAQ
Lorient vs Quimper: your questions
Which is the larger city, Lorient or Quimper?
By population, Quimper: 66,579 inhabitants versus 59,856 for Lorient (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Quimper is the 81st largest city in France, Lorient the 100th. By area, Quimper is also the larger (84.5 km²).
How far is Lorient from Quimper?
Lorient and Quimper are 60 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Lorient or Quimper?
To buy an apartment, Lorient is more expensive: €2,499 per m² (median price), versus €2,058 in Quimper (+21%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Lorient or Quimper?
In Quimper, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,490 a year, versus €23,810 in Lorient (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Lorient or Quimper?
Lorient: 1,865 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,708 in Quimper (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures