Crime runs high: an average of 26 recorded violent incidents and 23.5 recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025. School results trail most towns: brevet results 8 points below the expected rate. Its strongest subject is health (A−): after allowing for care homes, deaths from 2016 to 2025 were 26% below expected, against 12% below for the median of compared French towns. Homes sell for a median €1,245/m²: 70 m² comes to 3.8 years of the median income per consumption unit in the Communauté de communes des 7 Vallées. The overall grade lands at C, #54 of 120 in Pas-de-Calais. Set against the rest, it does better than 28% of compared French towns.
Figures: deaths, INSEE (by commune of residence, 2016–2025) · recorded crime, SSMSI (Ministry of the Interior) · brevet and bac results, Ministry of Education · 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.
Hazard riskNot graded in France yet: national flood maps cover only some areas–
How TownRatings grades French towns →
Maison · Inscrit · Photo: isamiga76 · CC BY 2.0
Hesdin-la-Forêt’s story
Hesdin-la-Forêt in pictures
The Culture ministry lists 16 historic monuments in Hesdin-la-Forêt: 1 classé (France’s highest heritage protection) and 15 inscrit (the second level).
That’s 36 for every 10,000 residents, more per resident than 98% of compared French towns; the median compared French town has 2.5.
The oldest protected part dates from the 15th century; the first monument here was protected in 1926.
12% of its homes were built before 1919, against 7.4% in the median compared French town.
1926First protected: Abbaye de Saint-André-Aux-Bois
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Hesdin-la-Forêt.
History
Hesdin-la-Forêt is rich in protected monuments: 36 per 10,000 residents, more than Pas-de-Calais’ towns or compared French towns
France has no History Grade yet: this card describes, it doesn’t grade.
Among the classé monuments in Hesdin-la-Forêt is Église Notre-Dame. The Culture ministry lists 16 historic monuments in the town: 1 classé (France’s highest heritage protection) and 15 inscrit (the second level). Just over a tenth of its homes were built before 1919, against 7.4% in the median compared French town.
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
Safety
For crime per resident, Hesdin-la-Forêt sits above 98% of compared French towns
The 2025 count: 211 offenses in Hesdin-la-Forêt. Jobs outnumber working residents in Hesdin-la-Forêt (2,500 to 1,350): it draws people in from around. Also worth knowing: of the graded crimes here, family violence came up most often (2025).
26recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a yearD−Safety Grade
Recorded by type · 2025
Family violence59
Criminal damage57
Other physical violence52
Sexual violence25
Vehicle theft10
Burglary8
Armed robbery0
Drug use39
Fraud25
Theft without violence20
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.
26
recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
23.5
recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
211
offenses recorded in the graded categories in 2025
0.9%
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 theft from vehicles number five or fewer in a recent year, the figure is withheld, and the index uses the département’s average instead (0.9% 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
Fewer pupils pass the brevet at the collèges near Hesdin-la-Forêt than in Pas-de-Calais’ towns or compared French towns: 78.0%
Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
On results, collèges and lycées here come #123 of 123 in Pas-de-Calais. The closest lycée for the general bac is 13.5 mi off.
Ministry of Education (DEPP) · brevet and bac 2025, value added (IVAC, IVAL) · Licence Ouverte
Work & commuteJobs & income C−
Unemployment in Hesdin-la-Forêt, 18.8%, runs above Pas-de-Calais’ towns and compared French towns
Half of residents lived on more than €21,440 a year per consumption unit, lower than both Pas-de-Calais’ towns (€22,665) and compared French towns (€25,970). On foot, by bike or by bus and train: that was how nearly a fifth of commuters travelled at the census.
19%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2023
Driving74%
On foot14%
Public transport3%
Bicycle2%
Motorbike or scooter2%
2,500
jobs based in Hesdin-la-Forêt, 1.8 per working resident
18.8%
unemployment rate, ages 15 to 64 in the labor force · median of compared French towns 10.1%
€21,440
median annual income per consumption unit, 2023 · median of compared French towns €25,970
5%
worked without traveling (at or from home)
A−
Walkability: better than 85% of compared French towns
Source: INSEE, census 2023 (commuting, employment, jobs at place of work); INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
HealthHealth A−
Mortality in Hesdin-la-Forêt, once ages and care homes are allowed for, undercuts Pas-de-Calais’ towns and compared French towns: 74 per 100 expected
Care access and life expectancy are shown for context, not graded.
The nearest emergency department to Hesdin-la-Forêt is Centre hospitalier de L Arrondissement de Montreuil, 16.8 mi away. 911 deaths in the town between 2016 and 2025, where France’s rates at each age predict 724: 26% above. Average lifespans in Pas-de-Calais: 83.5 years for women, 77.5 for men (2025), against 85.9 and 80.3 nationally. 7 GPs practise in the town.
−26%deaths against expected, after care homesA−Health Grade
Deaths per 100 expected · 2016–2025
Raw126
Adjusted74
Median town88
Expected100
7
GPs in Hesdin-la-Forêt · 2.7 GP consultations a year per resident within reach (APL)
16.8 mi
to the nearest emergency department, Centre hospitalier de L Arrondissement de Montreuil
18.2 mi
to the nearest maternity unit, Centre hospitalier de L Arrondissement de Montreuil
83.5 · 77.5
years of life expectancy at birth, women · men, Pas-de-Calais, 2025 (provisional) · France 85.9 · 80.3
Hesdin-la-Forêt skews older, with 33% of residents 65 or over, more than Pas-de-Calais’ towns or compared French towns
People aged 15 to 24 make up 10% of the town, below both Pas-de-Calais’ towns (12%) and compared French towns (11%). Children under 15 make up 14% of residents. Graduates make up 17% of adults.
52.1median age
Hesdin-la-ForêtPas-de-Calais medianFrance median
Ages · share of residents
33%
Under 1515–2425–4445–6465+
Highest diploma · residents 15 and older who have left education
No diploma33%
CAP or BEP25%
Baccalauréat16%
Higher education17%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
WomenFrance medianMen
About 85 men for every 100 women. Median share of women: Pas-de-Calais 52.0%, France 51.8%. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
INSEE, census 2023 · Pas-de-Calais median and France median: the median of compared communes
HousingCost of living B+
Renting in Hesdin-la-Forêt costs less than in Pas-de-Calais’ towns or compared French towns, at an estimated advertised €9.88/m² a month
Rents are the ministry’s estimates of advertised rents, not rents actually paid.
The median price, €1,245/m², comes from 190 sales of houses and apartments in Hesdin-la-Forêt from July 2023 to June 2026. House rents are put at about €7.48/m² a month. Houses made up 89% of the homes sold; apartments the rest.
€1,245/m²median sale price
Median sale price per m² · Jul 2023 to Jun 2026
Hesdin-la-Forêt€1,245/m²
Median of towns€2,430/m²
Pas-de-Calais median€1,668/m²
By type
Median per m²
Sales
Houses
€1,223/m²
169
€9.88/m²
estimated advertised apartment rent a month, charges included (€8.24 to €11.84/m² a month)
3.8
times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality, for 70 m² at the median price
€7.48/m²
estimated advertised house rent a month, charges included
€23,150
median annual income per consumption unit, Communauté de communes des 7 Vallées
The Culture ministry lists 16 historic monuments in Hesdin-la-Forêt: 1 classé (France’s highest heritage protection) and 15 inscrit (the second level).
Église Notre-Dame: Photo: isamiga76 · CC BY 2.0 · Hôtel de ville: Photo: Paul Hermans · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Abbaye de Saint-André-Aux-Bois: Photo: isamiga76 · CC BY 2.0 · Maison natale de l'abbé-Prévost: Photo: Pierre André Leclercq · CC BY-SA 4.0
Abbé Prévost: Jakob van der Schley, Public domain · Henri Le Fauconnier: Jan Toorop, Public domain · Charles Blondin: unknown photographer, picture taken before 1897 (probably 1860s-1870s), Public domain · André Ryssen: Ncouq78, CC BY-SA 4.0 · René Leverd: Thierryleverd, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hesdin-la-Forêt’s neighbors
The nearest towns of 2,500 or more. The map uses IGN’s commune boundaries. See them on the map →
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
Questions about Hesdin-la-Forêt
Is Hesdin-la-Forêt safe?
It grades D− for safety, #113 of 120 in Pas-de-Calais. In 2025 police and gendarmerie recorded 8 burglaries and 57 acts of criminal damage.
Are schools in Hesdin-la-Forêt good?
They grade D−, better than 4% of compared French towns. Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
Is Hesdin-la-Forêt expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most compared French towns: the median sale price from July 2023 to June 2026 was €1,245/m², against €2,430/m² for the median of compared French towns. Incomes are lower than in most compared French towns too, so Hesdin-la-Forêt grades B+ for cost of living.
About Hesdin-la-Forêt
Commune in Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
Hesdin-la-Forêt is a commune of 4,480 people in the Communauté de communes des 7 Vallées. 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.
