2026 comparison
Montluçon vs Vichy: 2026 comparison
Montluçon has more inhabitants than Vichy: 34,107 versus 25,445, or 34% more. Montluçon covers a larger area (20.7 km² versus 5.9 km²), but Vichy is more densely populated: 4,350 inhabitants per km² versus 1,650.
The median apartment price is higher in Vichy: €1,709 per m² versus €651. The median standard of living is higher in Vichy (€23,100 a year versus €21,980).
The two cities are 67 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
© 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
© jean-louis Zimmermann, CC BY 2.0
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Vichy
City in Allier
- Population
- 25,445 inhab.
- 366th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 5.9 km²
- Density
- 4,350 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
MontluçonVichy
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Montluçon+34% | 34,107 | 25,445 | More populous: Montluçon+34% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Vichy+6.2 pts | −5.1% | +1.1% | Stronger growth: Vichy+6.2 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Vichy+12 pts | −12.4% | −0.8% | Smaller decline: Vichy+12 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Vichy2.6 times as high | 1,650 | 4,350 | Denser: Vichy2.6 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Montluçon+4.0 pts | 13.7% | 9.7% | More young people: Montluçon+4.0 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Vichy+9.3 pts | 27.9% | 37.1% | More seniors: Vichy+9.3 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Montluçon+0.19 | 1.76 | 1.57 | Larger households: Montluçon+0.19 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Vichy2.6 times as high | 651 | 1,709 | More expensive: Vichy2.6 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Vichy+67% | 1,103 | 1,845 | More expensive: Vichy+67% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Vichy+18% | 8.9 | 10.5 | More expensive: Vichy+18% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Vichy+19% | 8.3 | 9.9 | More expensive: Vichy+19% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Montluçon+6.0 pts | 47.5% | 41.5% | More homeowners: Montluçon+6.0 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Montluçon+21 pts | 40.9% | 19.7% | More houses: Montluçon+21 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Montluçon+10 pts | 27.5% | 17.2% | More social housing: Montluçon+10 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Vichy+5.5 pts | 3.1% | 8.5% | More second homes: Vichy+5.5 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Montluçon+2.4 pts | 24.1% | 21.6% | More vacant homes: Montluçon+2.4 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Montluçon+7.0 pts | 55.84% | 48.88% | Higher rate: Montluçon+7.0 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 | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Vichy+5% | 21,980 | 23,100 | Higher: Vichy+5% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Montluçon+2.7 pts | 25.9% | 23.2% | Higher: Montluçon+2.7 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Vichy+10% | €22,707 | €25,072 | Higher: Vichy+10% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Vichy+4.8 pts | 37% | 42% | More taxpaying households: Vichy+4.8 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Montluçon+2.8 pts | 72.2% | 69.4% | Higher: Montluçon+2.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Montluçon+0.1 pt | 18.5% | 18.4% | Higher: Montluçon+0.1 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Philippe Perche | Frédéric Aguilera | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous right | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Montluçon+3.3 pts | 99% | 96% | Better covered: Montluçon+3.3 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Vichy+66% | 88.5302 in total | 147.0374 in total | More shops per capita: Vichy+66% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vichy+81% | 20.871 in total | 37.796 in total | More per capita: Vichy+81% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vichy+67% | 35.8122 in total | 59.7152 in total | More per capita: Vichy+67% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+26% | 25.888 in total | 20.452 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+26% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+28% | 3.512 in total | 2.87 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+28% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vichy3.4 times as high | 2.910 in total | 9.825 in total | More per capita: Vichy3.4 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Montluçon+2 | 3 | 1 | 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 | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Vichy+2% | 3.2 | 3.3 | Better access: Vichy+2% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vichy+34% | 8.228 in total | 11.028 in total | More per capita: Vichy+34% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vichy2.6 times as high | 11.439 in total | 29.575 in total | More per capita: Vichy2.6 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vichy2.1 times as high | 6.522 in total | 13.835 in total | More per capita: Vichy2.1 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montluçon+6% | 5.017 in total | 4.712 in total | More per capita: Montluçon+6% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Vichy+4 | 3 | 7 | More facilities: Vichy+4 |
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 | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Montluçon+13 | 21 | 8 | More schools: Montluçon+13 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Montluçon+1 | 5 | 4 | More middle schools: Montluçon+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Montluçon+4 | 7 | 3 | More high schools: Montluçon+4 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Vichy+2 | 8 | 10 | More facilities: Vichy+2 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Montluçon+29% | 5.3 | 4.1 | Higher rate: Montluçon+29% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Vichy+94% | 8.7 | 16.8 | Higher rate: Vichy+94% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montluçon+13% | 5.5 | 4.8 | Higher rate: Montluçon+13% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montluçon+33% | 1.1 | 0.8 | Higher rate: Montluçon+33% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montluçon+3% | 13.4 | 13.1 | Higher rate: Montluçon+3% |
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 | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Vichy+0.7 °C | 12.0°C | 12.7°C | Warmer: Vichy+0.7 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,892 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Vichy+26% | 637 | 800 | Wetter: Vichy+26% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Vichy+15 days/year | 104 | 119 | More rainy days: Vichy+15 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Montluçon+20 days/year | 66 | 45 | More frost days: Montluçon+20 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Vichy+3 days/year | 26 | 29 | More hot days: Vichy+3 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 | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Montluçon+1 | 21 | 20 | More declarations: Montluçon+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Vichy+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Vichy+1 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low, with aggravating factors |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Montluçon3.5 times as high | 20.7 | 5.85 | Larger: Montluçon3.5 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Vichy+46 m | 212 m | 258 m | Higher: Vichy+46 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Allier (03) | Allier (03) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Montluçon Communauté | Communauté d'agglomération Vichy Communauté | |
| Urban unit | Montluçon | Vichy | |
| Functional area | Montluçon | Vichy |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Montluçon vs Vichy at a glance
| Criterion | Montluçon | Vichy |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 34,107 | 25,445 |
| Change over 10 years | −12.4% | −0.8% |
| Density per km² | 1,650 | 4,350 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 651 | 1,709 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,103 | 1,845 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 8.9 | 10.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 55.84% | 48.88% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,980 | 23,100 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 18.5% | 18.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 99% | 96% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.2 | 3.3 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Average temperature | 12.0°C | 12.7°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,892 |
| Area km² | 20.7 | 5.85 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Montluçon vs Vichy: your questions
Which is the larger city, Montluçon or Vichy?
By population, Montluçon: 34,107 inhabitants versus 25,445 for Vichy (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Montluçon is the 246th largest city in France, Vichy the 366th. By area, Montluçon is also the larger (20.7 km²).
How far is Montluçon from Vichy?
Montluçon and Vichy are 67 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Allier).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Montluçon or Vichy?
To buy an apartment, Vichy is more expensive: €1,709 per m² (median price), versus €651 in Montluçon (+163%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Montluçon or Vichy?
In Vichy, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,100 a year, versus €21,980 in Montluçon (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Montluçon and Vichy in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Allier (03), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures