Some subjects shine; others lag. Its lowest grade is for safety — an average of 8.3 recorded violent incidents and 19.1 recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025. At the median price of €2,556/m², a 70 m² home costs 6.3 times the median annual income per consumption unit in the Communauté de communes de la Dombes. Jobs & income is its strong suit (A−) — 1.5 jobs per working resident; 8.8% unemployment. Overall, that makes a B−, better than 46% of compared French towns. In the ranking it comes #45 of 53 in Ain.
Figures: employment, INSEE census 2023 · recorded crime, SSMSI (Ministry of the Interior) · prices, DVF · income per consumption unit (an income adjusted for household size), INSEE Filosofi.
Hazard risk isn’t graded in France yet: national flood maps cover only some areas. The overall grade uses the other six subjects.
Each subject compares Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne with other French towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far its rank is from the middle. American and UK towns are graded separately.
Hazard riskNot graded in France yet: national flood maps cover only some areas–
How TownRatings grades French towns →
Hospice · Classé · Photo: Chabe01 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne’s story
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne in pictures
The Culture ministry lists 5 historic monuments in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne: 3 classé (France’s highest heritage protection) and 2 inscrit (the second level).
That’s 9.5 for every 10,000 residents, more per resident than 84% of compared French towns; the median compared French town has 2.5.
The oldest protected part dates from the 14th century; the first monument here was protected in 1909.
15% of its homes were built before 1919, against 7.4% in the median compared French town.
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne.
History
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne keeps more of its old housing than Ain’s towns or compared French towns: 15% built before 1919
France has no History Grade yet: this card describes, it doesn’t grade.
Its oldest listed monument dates from the 14th century. Per 10,000 residents, Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne counts 9.5 protected monuments, above both Ain’s towns (1.5) and compared French towns (2.5). The Culture ministry lists 5 historic monuments in the town: 3 classé (France’s highest heritage protection) and 2 inscrit (the second level).
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
Work & commuteJobs & income A−
A walkable place: Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne beats 79% of compared French towns on foot
The median disposable income was €26,880 a year per consumption unit, about level with both Ain’s towns (€27,670) and compared French towns (€25,970). No commute at all: 3.3% of working residents in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne at the census. Also worth knowing: the unemployment rate comes to 8.8%.
15%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2023
Driving81%
On foot10%
Public transport4%
Bicycle1%
Motorbike or scooter1%
3,200
jobs based in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, 1.5 per working resident
8.8%
unemployment rate, ages 15 to 64 in the labor force · median of compared French towns 10.1%
€26,880
median annual income per consumption unit, 2023 · median of compared French towns €25,970
3%
worked without traveling (at or from home)
A−
Walkability: better than 79% of compared French towns
Source: INSEE, census 2023 (commuting, employment, jobs at place of work); INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
Safety
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne records more crime per resident than three in four compared French towns
In 2025, criminal damage led the graded crimes in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne. With 3,200 jobs for 2,150 working residents, Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne draws people in from neighbouring communes. Over 2025, Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne logged 184 recorded offenses.
8.3recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a yearCSafety Grade
Recorded by type · 2025
Criminal damage48
Burglary36
Other physical violence33
Family violence25
Sexual violence16
Vehicle theft13
Theft from vehicles13
Armed robbery0
Fraud41
Theft without violence35
Not in the gradeTheft without violence, drug use and fraud are shown for information but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence plus burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and criminal damage per resident.
8.3
recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
19.1
recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
184
offenses recorded in the graded categories in 2025
2.1%
of the index rests on the département’s average, used where small counts aren’t published
Source: SSMSI (Interior Ministry), recorded crime by commune, 2023–2025 · Licence Ouverte · Crimes are counted in the commune where they happen, then divided by its residents, so a town that draws people in from around can look higher. The count covers the offense categories the Safety Grade uses.
Who lives here
An older town: 29% of people in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne are 65 or over, more than in Ain’s towns and across compared French towns
The share of residents under 15 is 14%. Degrees are held by 27% of adults, lower than both Ain’s towns (32%) and compared French towns (30%). The middle age in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne is 48.6.
48.6median age
Châtillon-sur-ChalaronneAin medianFrance median
Ages · share of residents
29%
Under 1515–2425–4445–6465+
Highest diploma · residents 15 and older who have left education
No diploma24%
CAP or BEP26%
Baccalauréat18%
Higher education27%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
WomenFrance medianMen
About 88 men for every 100 women. Median share of women: Ain 51.0%, France 51.8%. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
INSEE, census 2023 · Ain median and France median: the median of compared communes
HealthHealth C
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne sees 94 deaths per 100 expected: under what its ages predict, yet above Ain’s towns and compared French towns
Care access and life expectancy are shown for context, not graded.
At birth, a girl in Ain can expect 85.9 years and a boy 82 (2025); across France, 85.9 and 80.3. From 2016 to 2025, 904 residents of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne died, against 748 expected from France’s death rates at each age: 21% more. The nearest emergency department to Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne is Centre hospitalier de Bourg En Bresse Fleyriat, 14.1 mi away. There are 5 general practitioners locally.
−6%deaths against expected, after care homesCHealth Grade
Deaths per 100 expected · 2016–2025
Raw121
Adjusted94
Median town88
Expected100
5
GPs in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne · 1.5 GP consultations a year per resident within reach (APL)
14.1 mi
to the nearest emergency department, Centre hospitalier de Bourg En Bresse Fleyriat
14.1 mi
to the nearest maternity unit, Centre hospitalier de Bourg En Bresse Fleyriat
85.9 · 82
years of life expectancy at birth, women · men, Ain, 2025 (provisional) · France 85.9 · 80.3
Ministry of Education (DEPP) · brevet and bac 2025, value added (IVAC, IVAL) · Licence Ouverte
HousingCost of living B−
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne earns a B− for cost of living
Rents are the ministry’s estimates of advertised rents, not rents actually paid.
A house in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne goes for €2,842/m², an apartment for €2,355/m². 180 sales of houses and apartments in the town, from July 2023 to June 2026, give the median of €2,556/m². Estimated advertised rent for houses: €12.38/m² a month.
€2,556/m²median sale price
Median sale price per m² · Jul 2023 to Jun 2026
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne€2,556/m²
Median of towns€2,430/m²
Ain median€2,641/m²
By type
Median per m²
Sales
Houses
€2,842/m²
89
Apartments
€2,355/m²
91
€11.78/m²
estimated advertised apartment rent a month, charges included (€9.15 to €15.17/m² a month)
6.3
times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality, for 70 m² at the median price
€12.38/m²
estimated advertised house rent a month, charges included
€28,250
median annual income per consumption unit, Communauté de communes de la Dombes
The Culture ministry lists 5 historic monuments in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne: 3 classé (France’s highest heritage protection) and 2 inscrit (the second level).
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
Questions about Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
Is Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne safe?
It grades C for safety, #48 of 53 in Ain. In 2025 police and gendarmerie recorded 36 burglaries and 48 acts of criminal damage.
Are schools in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne good?
They grade C+, better than 42% of compared French towns and #33 of 54 in Ain. Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
Is Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne expensive to live in?
Prices are close to the median of compared French towns: the median sale price from July 2023 to June 2026 was €2,556/m², against €2,430/m² for the median of compared French towns. Estimated advertised apartment rents are €11.78/m² a month, charges included. Incomes are higher than in most compared French towns, so Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne grades B− for cost of living.
About Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
Commune in Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne is a commune of 5,250 people in the Communauté de communes de la Dombes. TownRatings compares communes, France’s local unit: each has its own mayor and its own statistics. Its area takes in the town and the countryside around it.
Built from INSEE’s 2026 official geography (COG) and IGN Admin Express boundaries
Contains public sector information under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab): INSEE, DGFiP, the Interior Ministry’s statistics service (SSMSI), the Ministry of Education (DEPP), the Health Ministry’s statistics service (DREES) and the Housing Ministry (Carte des loyers). Commune boundaries: IGN Admin Express.
