Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
329 residents make their home in this town in Haute-Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
There are no grades for Espalem: French towns need 1,000 residents for them.
Espalem has 1 historic monument on the Culture ministry’s list, none at the highest level (classé).
The oldest protected part dates from the 12th century; the first monument here was protected in 1986.
23% 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 Espalem.
Children are 15% of the town. The 15-to-24 age group: 12%, higher than both Haute-Loire’s towns (11%) and compared French towns (11%). Half of Espalem is older than 41.9, half younger.
49% women, 51% men
About an even split. Median share of women: Haute-Loire 51.9%, France 51.8%.
| Espalem | Haute-Loire median | France median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 11% | 11% |
| 25–44 | 28% | 21% | 23% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 27% | 26% |
| 65+ | 17% | 25% | 22% |
| No diploma | 15% | 19% | 19% |
| CAP or BEP | 29% | 27% | 26% |
| Baccalauréat | 24% | 19% | 18% |
| Higher education | 27% | 27% | 30% |
INSEE, census 2023 · Haute-Loire median and France median: the median of compared communes
France has no History Grade yet: this card describes, it doesn’t grade.
Espalem has 1 historic monument on the Culture ministry’s list, none at the highest level (classé). Its heritage reaches back to the 12th century.
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
The typical income here, after tax and benefits, is €24,660 a year per consumption unit. For its 150 residents in work, Espalem has 50 jobs: 0.4 each. At the census, 4.3% went to work on foot, by bike or by public transport, lower than both Haute-Loire’s towns (9.7%) and compared French towns (13.4%).
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.
From July 2023 to June 2026, 7 homes were sold in Espalem.
Source: Housing Ministry, Carte des loyers 2025; INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
Heritage in and near Espalem. Best known first.
Espalem has one historic monument; beside it, the nearest classé monuments in other towns, within 15.5 mi.
Église paroissiale Saint-Mathieu: Photo: WCOMFR · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wikidata has nobody with a French article born in Espalem yet.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espalem | 329 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Brioude | 6,527 | 7 | B− | A | D | B |
| Sainte-Florine | 3,283 | 8.2 | A− | A | A− | C− |
| Brassac-les-Mines Puy-de-Dôme | 3,412 | 9.2 | B | A | B− | C |
| Issoire Puy-de-Dôme | 15,115 | 17 | C+ | B | C− | C+ |
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
Commune in Haute-Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Espalem is a commune of 329 people in the Communauté de communes Brioude Sud Auvergne. 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 4, 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.