Arques grades C− overall: better than 25% of compared French towns, and #63 of 120 in Pas-de-Calais. Its weakest subject is health (D−): after allowing for care homes, deaths from 2016 to 2025 were 19% above expected, against 12% below for the median of compared French towns. At the median price of €1,669/m², a 70 m² home costs 5 times the median annual income per consumption unit (an income adjusted for household size) in the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer. Its strongest is schools (B+): bac results 0.9 points below the expected rate; brevet results 1.7 points above the expected rate.
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 Arques 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 Arques.
HealthHealth D−
More deaths than Arques’ ages would predict, 119 per 100 expected, above Pas-de-Calais’ towns and compared French towns
Care access and life expectancy are shown for context, not graded.
From 2016 to 2025, 1,114 residents of Arques died, against 794 expected from France’s death rates at each age: 40% more. Average lifespans in Pas-de-Calais: 83.5 years for women, 77.5 for men (2025), against 85.9 and 80.3 nationally. For a family doctor, residents of Arques can choose among 5 GPs.
+19%deaths against expected, after care homesD−Health Grade
Deaths per 100 expected · 2016–2025
Raw140
Adjusted119
Median town88
Expected100
5
GPs in Arques · 3.5 GP consultations a year per resident within reach (APL)
3.7 mi
to the nearest emergency department, Centre hospitalier de la Region de Saint Omer
3.1 mi
to the nearest maternity unit, Centre hospitalier de la Region de Saint Omer
83.5 · 77.5
years of life expectancy at birth, women · men, Pas-de-Calais, 2025 (provisional) · France 85.9 · 80.3
Arques records more crime per resident than 77% of compared French towns
More of the graded crimes in Arques were criminal damage than anything else (2025). 252 offenses were reported in Arques during 2025. The yearly rates for 2023–2025: 12.3 violent offenses and 16.5 graded property crimes per 1,000 residents. With 10,100 jobs for 3,650 working residents, Arques draws people in from neighbouring communes.
12.3recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a yearC−Safety Grade
Recorded by type · 2025
Criminal damage104
Family violence60
Other physical violence35
Theft from vehicles19
Sexual violence14
Burglary11
Vehicle theft9
Fraud60
Drug use50
Theft without violence40
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.
12.3
recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
16.5
recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
252
offenses recorded in the graded categories in 2025
0.5%
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 · Small counts of armed robbery go unpublished (five or fewer in at least one of the last three years); the département’s average stands in, 0.5% of the index here. The count covers the offense categories the Safety Grade uses. 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.
Schools
Brevet results near Arques run high: 91.8% passed, above Pas-de-Calais’ towns and compared French towns
Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
94.4% of candidates passed the bac at the lycées within 5 km of Arques, higher than both Pas-de-Calais’ towns (90.7%) and compared French towns (92.9%). Vocational results within 5 km: 79% passed the bac pro, of 233 candidates. On results, collèges and lycées here come #37 of 123 in Pas-de-Calais.
98%passed the bac (general and technological)B+School Grade
Ministry of Education (DEPP) · brevet and bac 2025, value added (IVAC, IVAL) · Licence Ouverte
Work & commuteJobs & income C
Incomes in Arques are lower than in 95% of French communes of 1,000+
The jobless rate is 13.8%. The median disposable income was €21,840 a year per consumption unit, about level with Pas-de-Calais’ towns (€22,665) and below compared French towns (€25,970). Public transport took 3.5% of Arques’ working residents to work at the census.
14%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2023
Driving81%
On foot6%
Bicycle4%
Public transport4%
Motorbike or scooter2%
10,100
jobs based in Arques, 2.8 per working resident
13.8%
unemployment rate, ages 15 to 64 in the labor force · median of compared French towns 10.1%
€21,840
median annual income per consumption unit, 2023 · median of compared French towns €25,970
3%
worked without traveling (at or from home)
B+
Walkability: better than 70% of compared French towns
Source: INSEE, census 2023 (commuting, employment, jobs at place of work); INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
History
1 historic monument in Arques, 1 classé
France has no History Grade yet: this card describes, it doesn’t grade.
Protection here reaches back to the 19th century. Among the classé monuments in Arques is Ascenseur à bateaux des Fontinettes. Homes from before 1919 make up 4.9% of the total, about level with Pas-de-Calais’ towns (4.2%) and below compared French towns (7.4%).
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
Who lives here
A typical mix of ages for France
People aged 15 to 24 make up just over a tenth of the town, near Pas-de-Calais’ towns (12%) and higher than compared French towns (11%). Among adults, 20% have a degree. Half the people of Arques are older than 43.9.
43.9median age
ArquesPas-de-Calais medianFrance median
Ages · share of residents
12%
Under 1515–2425–4445–6465+
Highest diploma · residents 15 and older who have left education
No diploma26%
CAP or BEP29%
Baccalauréat18%
Higher education20%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
WomenFrance medianMen
About 92 men for every 100 women. Median share of women: Pas-de-Calais 52.0%, France 51.8%.
INSEE, census 2023 · Pas-de-Calais median and France median: the median of compared communes
HousingCost of living B−
Arques is graded a B− for cost of living
Rents are the ministry’s estimates of advertised rents, not rents actually paid.
305 sales of houses and apartments in Arques, from July 2023 to June 2026, give the median of €1,669/m². The sales split: 95% houses, the rest apartments. For a house, the estimated advertised rent is €8.57/m² a month.
€1,669/m²median sale price
Median sale price per m² · Jul 2023 to Jun 2026
Arques€1,669/m²
Median of towns€2,430/m²
Pas-de-Calais median€1,668/m²
By type
Median per m²
Sales
Houses
€1,667/m²
291
€11.45/m²
estimated advertised apartment rent a month, charges included (€9.45 to €13.87/m² a month)
5
times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality, for 70 m² at the median price
€8.57/m²
estimated advertised house rent a month, charges included
€23,440
median annual income per consumption unit, Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
Questions about Arques
Is Arques safe?
It grades C− for safety, #73 of 120 in Pas-de-Calais. In 2025 police and gendarmerie recorded 11 burglaries and 104 acts of criminal damage.
Are schools in Arques good?
They grade B+, better than 74% of compared French towns and #37 of 123 in Pas-de-Calais. The lycée stands out: 98% of 290 candidates passed the bac at Lycée général et technologique Blaise Pascal in 2025, a point above the expected rate given its pupils’ backgrounds. Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
Is Arques expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most compared French towns: the median sale price from July 2023 to June 2026 was €1,669/m², against €2,430/m² for the median of compared French towns. Estimated advertised apartment rents are €11.45/m² a month, charges included. Incomes are lower than in most compared French towns too, so Arques grades B− for cost of living.
About Arques
Commune in Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
Arques is a commune of 9,431 people in the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer. 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.
