2026 comparison
Pessac vs Quimper: 2026 comparison
Pessac has more inhabitants than Quimper: 68,102 versus 66,579, or 2.3% more. Quimper covers a larger area (84.5 km² versus 38.8 km²), but Pessac is more densely populated: 1,754 inhabitants per km² versus 788.
The median apartment price is higher in Pessac: €3,569 per m² versus €2,058. The median standard of living is higher in Pessac (€28,840 a year versus €25,490).
The two cities are 443 km apart as the crow flies.
© Symac / Sylvain Machefert, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pessac
City in Gironde
- Population
- 68,102 inhab.
- 78th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 38.8 km²
- Density
- 1,754 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
PessacQuimper
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Pessac+2% | 68,102 | 66,579 | More populous: Pessac+2% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Pessac+2.7 pts | +4.6% | +1.9% | Stronger growth: Pessac+2.7 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Pessac+9.5 pts | +10.8% | +1.3% | Stronger growth: Pessac+9.5 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Pessac2.2 times as high | 1,754 | 788 | Denser: Pessac2.2 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Pessac+1.6 pt | 15.4% | 13.8% | More young people: Pessac+1.6 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Quimper+5.0 pts | 17.6% | 22.6% | More seniors: Quimper+5.0 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Pessac+0.23 | 2.02 | 1.79 | Larger households: Pessac+0.23 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Pessac+73% | 3,569 | 2,058 | More expensive: Pessac+73% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Pessac+83% | 4,096 | 2,239 | More expensive: Pessac+83% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Pessac+27% | 15.3 | 12.0 | More expensive: Pessac+27% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Pessac+29% | 14.3 | 11.1 | More expensive: Pessac+29% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Quimper+8.2 pts | 46.8% | 55.0% | More homeowners: Quimper+8.2 pts |
| Share of housesTie | 45.6% | 45.6% | Tie |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Pessac+7.1 pts | 31.8% | 24.7% | More social housing: Pessac+7.1 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Quimper+0.5 pt | 2.7% | 3.3% | More second homes: Quimper+0.5 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Quimper+4.3 pts | 3.7% | 8.1% | More vacant homes: Quimper+4.3 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Pessac+6.2 pts | 48.44% | 42.29% | Higher rate: Pessac+6.2 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 | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Pessac+13% | 28,840 | 25,490 | Higher: Pessac+13% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Pessac+0.3 pt | 14.8% | 14.5% | Higher: Pessac+0.3 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Pessac+27% | €36,348 | €28,622 | Higher: Pessac+27% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Pessac+6.5 pts | 54% | 47% | More taxpaying households: Pessac+6.5 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Quimper+3.8 pts | 70.9% | 74.7% | Higher: Quimper+3.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Quimper+1.0 pt | 11.7% | 12.7% | Higher: Quimper+1.0 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Franck Raynal | Isabelle Assih | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Pessac+3.0 pts | 98% | 95% | Better covered: Pessac+3.0 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Quimper2.7 times as high | 35.5242 in total | 94.6630 in total | More shops per capita: Quimper2.7 times as high |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+95% | 12.082 in total | 23.4156 in total | More per capita: Quimper+95% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+63% | 24.4166 in total | 39.7264 in total | More per capita: Quimper+63% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper2.6 times as high | 9.363 in total | 24.2161 in total | More per capita: Quimper2.6 times as high |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper2.2 times as high | 1.28 in total | 2.617 in total | More per capita: Quimper2.2 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper3.2 times as high | 0.96 in total | 2.919 in total | More per capita: Quimper3.2 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Pessac+1 | 2 | 1 | More stations: Pessac+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Quimper+17% | 4.1 | 4.7 | Better access: Quimper+17% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+24% | 9.766 in total | 12.080 in total | More per capita: Quimper+24% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+3% | 24.1164 in total | 24.8165 in total | More per capita: Quimper+3% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+93% | 6.846 in total | 13.187 in total | More per capita: Quimper+93% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Quimper+44% | 2.517 in total | 3.624 in total | More per capita: Quimper+44% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Quimper+16 | 8 | 24 | More facilities: Quimper+16 |
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 | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Pessac+2 | 31 | 29 | More schools: Pessac+2 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Quimper+5 | 6 | 11 | More middle schools: Quimper+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Quimper+11 | 2 | 13 | More high schools: Quimper+11 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Pessac+2 | 18 | 16 | More facilities: Pessac+2 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Pessac+83% | 10.2 | 5.6 | Higher rate: Pessac+83% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Pessac+28% | 8.4 | 6.6 | Higher rate: Pessac+28% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Quimper2.8 times as high | 1.6 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Quimper2.8 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Quimper+52% | 0.9 | 1.4 | Higher rate: Quimper+52% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Quimper+6% | 8.9 | 9.4 | Higher rate: Quimper+6% |
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 | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Pessac+2.2 °C | 14.3°C | 12.1°C | Warmer: Pessac+2.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Pessac+21% | 2,070 | 1,708 | Sunnier: Pessac+21% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Quimper+37% | 884 | 1,214 | Wetter: Quimper+37% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Quimper+26 days/year | 124 | 150 | More rainy days: Quimper+26 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Pessac+10 days/year | 26 | 16 | More frost days: Pessac+10 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Pessac+29 days/year | 31 | 2 | More hot days: Pessac+29 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 | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Pessac+16 | 32 | 16 | More declarations: Pessac+16 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Quimper+1 | 0 | 1 | More plans: Quimper+1 |
| Radon potential | Low, with aggravating factors | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Quimper2.2 times as high | 38.8 | 84.5 | Larger: Quimper2.2 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Pessac+30 m | 35 m | 5 m | Higher: Pessac+30 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Gironde (33) | Finistère (29) | |
| Intercommunality | Bordeaux Métropole | Communauté d'agglomération Quimper Bretagne Occidentale | |
| Urban unit | Bordeaux | Quimper | |
| Functional area | Bordeaux | Quimper |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Pessac vs Quimper at a glance
| Criterion | Pessac | Quimper |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 68,102 | 66,579 |
| Change over 10 years | +10.8% | +1.3% |
| Density per km² | 1,754 | 788 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 3,569 | 2,058 |
| Median house price €/m² | 4,096 | 2,239 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.3 | 12.0 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.44% | 42.29% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 28,840 | 25,490 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 11.7% | 12.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.1 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 10.2 | 5.6 |
| Average temperature | 14.3°C | 12.1°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,070 | 1,708 |
| Area km² | 38.8 | 84.5 |
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FAQ
Pessac vs Quimper: your questions
Which is the larger city, Pessac or Quimper?
By population, Pessac: 68,102 inhabitants versus 66,579 for Quimper (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Pessac is the 78th largest city in France, Quimper the 81st. By area, Quimper is the larger (84.5 km²).
How far is Pessac from Quimper?
Pessac and Quimper are 443 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Pessac or Quimper?
To buy an apartment, Pessac is more expensive: €3,569 per m² (median price), versus €2,058 in Quimper (+73%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Pessac or Quimper?
In Pessac, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,840 a year, versus €25,490 in Quimper (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Pessac or Quimper?
Pessac: 2,070 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