Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
It is a town of 245 residents in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
With fewer than 1,000 residents, Valernes falls below the line for grades. Second homes make up 31% of its housing.
The one thing Valernes does most differently from other towns.
The Culture ministry lists no building in Valernes as a monument historique. That’s true of 25% of compared French towns too.
The nearest classé monument is Roche ornée avec inscription gallo-romaine dite la Pierre Ecrite, in Saint-Geniez, 2.9 mi away.
26% of its homes were built before 1919, against 7.4% in the median compared French town.
Explore the history →Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Valernes.
18% are under 15, about level with compared French towns (17%) and above Alpes-de-Haute-Provence’s towns (16%). Over-65s are 27% of the population. Half the people of Valernes are older than 49.2.
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Median share of women: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence 52.0%, France 51.8%.
| Valernes | Alpes-de-Haute-Provence median | France median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| 15–24 | 5.3% | 9.2% | 11% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 21% | 23% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 27% | 26% |
| 65+ | 27% | 27% | 22% |
| No diploma | 16% | 19% | 19% |
| CAP or BEP | 26% | 27% | 26% |
| Baccalauréat | 26% | 20% | 18% |
| Higher education | 27% | 30% | 30% |
INSEE, census 2023 · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence median and France median: the median of compared communes
The census found 15.1% of commuters going to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. The median disposable income was €24,380 a year per consumption unit, near Alpes-de-Haute-Provence’s towns (€24,070) and lower than compared French towns (€25,970). Unemployment runs at 11.3%.
Source: INSEE, census 2023 (commuting, employment, jobs at place of work); INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
Rents are the ministry’s estimates of advertised rents, not rents actually paid.
Renting a house costs an estimated €9.67/m² a month. Between July 2023 and June 2026, buyers took 2 homes in Valernes.
Source: Housing Ministry, Carte des loyers 2025; INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
Nothing in Valernes is on the monuments historiques list. These are the nearest classé monuments, within 15.5 mi.
Wikidata places 1 person here, but the articles don’t both confirm Valernes as the birthplace, so nobody is listed.
The nearest towns of 2,500 or more. The map uses IGN’s commune boundaries. See them on the map →
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valernes | 245 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sisteron | 7,850 | 4.5 | C+ | B | C | B |
| Laragne-Montéglin Hautes-Alpes | 3,549 | 7.9 | C− | B+ | D | C |
| Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban | 5,107 | 12 | C | B− | C+ | B− |
| Peyruis | 2,798 | 16 | B | C+ | A | C+ |
| Les Mées | 4,099 | 16 | B− | B− | A | C |
| Digne-les-Bains | 17,979 | 17 | C+ | C | C− | B |
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
Commune in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Valernes is a commune of 245 people in the Communauté de communes du Sisteronais-Buëch. 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
Sources: INSEE, census 2023 (population, employment, commuting) · INSEE, Filosofi 2023 (income per consumption unit, poverty) · Housing Ministry, Carte des loyers 2025 · SSMSI, recorded crime by commune, 2023–2025 · Ministry of Education (DEPP), brevet and bac results and value-added indicators, 2025 · INSEE, deaths by commune of residence 2016–2025 and censuses 2012–2023; Eurostat, death rates by age (© European Union); INSEE, BPE 2025 (care homes, emergency and maternity units, GPs, pharmacies); DREES, APL 2024; INSEE, life expectancy by département 2025 (provisional) · INSEE, BPE 2025 and Filosofi 200 m grid (walking distances) · IGN Admin Express (boundaries) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking French towns against each other only, updated November 9, 2026. Under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab).
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.