Bavay grades C overall: better than 33% of compared French towns, and #80 of 189 in Nord. Its weakest subject is health (D): after allowing for care homes, deaths from 2016 to 2025 were 7% above expected, against 12% below for the median of compared French towns. Its strongest is cost of living (A): at the median price, a 70 m² home costs 3.8 times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality.
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 Bavay 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.
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Bavay.
HealthHealth D
More deaths than expected: Bavay is above 89% of compared French towns once ages and care homes are allowed for
Care access and life expectancy are shown for context, not graded.
471 deaths in Bavay between 2016 and 2025, where France’s rates at each age predict 358: 32% above. Adjusted mortality here: 107 deaths for every 100 expected. Also worth knowing: life expectancy in Nord: 84.5 years for women and 78.8 for men (2025); France averages 85.9 and 80.3. The town has 6 family doctors.
+7%deaths against expected, after care homesDHealth Grade
Deaths per 100 expected · 2016–2025
Raw132
Adjusted107
Median town88
Expected100
6
GPs in Bavay · 3.1 GP consultations a year per resident within reach (APL)
8.6 mi
to the nearest emergency department, Ch de Maubeuge Mco
8.6 mi
to the nearest maternity unit, Ch de Maubeuge Mco
84.5 · 78.8
years of life expectancy at birth, women · men, Nord, 2025 (provisional) · France 85.9 · 80.3
Renting in Bavay costs less than in Nord’s towns and across compared French towns, at an estimated advertised €10.02/m² a month
Rents are the ministry’s estimates of advertised rents, not rents actually paid.
The median price, €1,380/m², comes from 108 sales of houses and apartments in Bavay from July 2023 to June 2026. From July 2023 to June 2026, 108 homes were sold here.
€1,380/m²median sale price
Median sale price per m² · Jul 2023 to Jun 2026
Bavay€1,380/m²
Median of towns€2,430/m²
Nord median€1,810/m²
By type
Median per m²
Sales
Houses
€1,380/m²
108
€10.02/m²
estimated advertised apartment rent a month, charges included (€8.49 to €11.82/m² a month)
3.8
times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality, for 70 m² at the median price
€7.99/m²
estimated advertised house rent a month, charges included
€25,710
median annual income per consumption unit, Communauté de communes du Pays de Mormal
Source: DGFiP, DVF property sales (Etalab geolocated); Housing Ministry, Carte des loyers 2025; INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
Safety
Recorded crime per resident is higher in Bavay than in 84% of compared French towns
On average over 2023–2025, every 1,000 residents saw 18.7 violent offenses and 12.9 graded property crimes a year. Bavay’s tally for 2025: 100 recorded offenses. Criminal damage topped the graded crimes in Bavay (2025).
18.7recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a yearC−Safety Grade
Recorded by type · 2025
Criminal damage41
Family violence24
Other physical violence24
Sexual violence11
Armed robbery0
Drug use23
Fraud16
Theft without violence12
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.
18.7
recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
12.9
recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
100
offenses recorded in the graded categories in 2025
5.3%
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 · When burglary, vehicle theft and theft from vehicles number five or fewer in a recent year, the figure is withheld, and the index uses the département’s average instead (5.3% of the index here). The count covers the offense categories the Safety Grade uses.
Work & commuteJobs & income C−
On foot, Bavay works better than 77% of compared French towns
12.6% of the labour force were unemployed, near Nord’s towns (13.2%) and higher than compared French towns (10.1%). The median disposable income is €23,060 a year per consumption unit. Per resident in work, Bavay counts 1 jobs (1,300 jobs, 1,300 workers).
13%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2023
Driving83%
On foot9%
Public transport3%
Motorbike or scooter0%
Bicycle0%
1,300
jobs based in Bavay, 1 per working resident
12.6%
unemployment rate, ages 15 to 64 in the labor force · median of compared French towns 10.1%
€23,060
median annual income per consumption unit, 2023 · median of compared French towns €25,970
4%
worked without traveling (at or from home)
A−
Walkability: better than 77% of compared French towns
Source: INSEE, census 2023 (commuting, employment, jobs at place of work); INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
Who lives here
A young town: 13% of people in Bavay are 15 to 24, more than in Nord’s towns and across compared French towns
People 65 and over make up 25% of the town, above both Nord’s towns (19%) and compared French towns (22%). Ages in Bavay split evenly at 45.2: half are older, half younger. Just over a quarter of adults hold a degree.
45.2median age
BavayNord medianFrance median
Ages · share of residents
13%
Under 1515–2425–4445–6465+
Highest diploma · residents 15 and older who have left education
No diploma22%
CAP or BEP26%
Baccalauréat20%
Higher education26%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
WomenFrance medianMen
About 87 men for every 100 women. Median share of women: Nord 51.9%, France 51.8%.
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
Schools
84.0% of candidates passed the brevet at the collège within 5 km, 4 points below the expected rate
Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
The bac pass rate near Bavay is 98.0%, above both Nord’s towns (90.4%) and compared French towns (92.9%). Its collèges and lycées rank #105 of 195 in Nord on results.
98%passed the bac (general and technological)B−School Grade
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
Questions about Bavay
Is Bavay safe?
It grades C− for safety, #139 of 189 in Nord.
Are schools in Bavay good?
They grade B−, better than 52% of compared French towns and #105 of 195 in Nord. Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
Is Bavay expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most compared French towns: the median sale price from July 2023 to June 2026 was €1,380/m², against €2,430/m² for the median of compared French towns. Incomes are lower than in most compared French towns too, so Bavay grades A for cost of living.
About Bavay
Commune in Nord, Hauts-de-France
Bavay is a commune of 3,249 people in the Communauté de communes du Pays de Mormal. 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.
