Dept 43 Rank #55 / 96
Haute-Loire
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · Nearest city: Le Puy → Lyon (~1h30)
Volcanic plateau, Le Puy basalt spires, dramatic valleys
Why this score · reflects your priorities
Haute-Loire pairs cheap property, decent sunshine and solid schools with remoteness from the rail network and cold winters as its drawbacks. La Haute-Loire associe immobilier bon marché, ensoleillement correct et bons résultats scolaires, avec l'éloignement du réseau ferroviaire et des hivers froids comme handicaps.
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Communes
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Climate
Sunshine
2,126h/yr
Trend 2015-2025: lost ~7 sun hours each year.
p68 of 96
Sunny days
176/yr
days >50% sunlit
p75 of 96
Rain days
104/yr
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
p16 of 96
Annual rainfall
689mm/yr
total volume
p48 of 96
Heavy rain
6/yr
≥ 20 mm/day
p68 of 96
Torrential
0.6/yr
≥ 50 mm/day
p83 of 96
Hot days >30°
21/yr
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
p49 of 96
Winter mildness
2/10
-0.2 °C avg Jan low
Trend 2015-2025: January warming 0.3 °C per year.
p7 of 96
Wind
2.8m/s
annual mean
Trend 2015-2025: calmer by 0.05 m/s per year.
p36 of 96
Muggy days
1/yr
TG≥22°C & HU≥70%
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
p4 of 96
Avg max temperature · °C
6
J
8
F
12
M
15
A
19
M
22
J
25
J
25
A
20
S
16
O
10
N
7
D
2050 outlook TRACC +2.7°C · vs 1976-2005
Hot days ≥35°C ~+3 days · +2 so far
Tropical nights ~+4 nights · +1 so far
Frost days ~-32 days · -20 so far
Dry-soil days ~+35 days
Landscape
Landscape score
6/10
p72 of 96
Max elevation
1,749m
p77 of 96
Forest cover
42.3%
p68 of 96
Characteristics
⛰ Mountains
Volcanic plateau, Le Puy basalt spires, dramatic valleys
Identity
Haute-Loire is the birthplace of Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette (officier).
Notable figures born here
Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette — officierMarion Bartoli — commentateur sportifJules Romains — écrivainSidney Govou — footballeurGrégory Coupet — footballeurJules Vallès — écrivainRomain Bardet — coureurJoachim Barrande — ingénieurGermaine Tillion — résistantYves Ramousse — prêtre catholique
Terroir & appellations
Haute-Loire lies within protected appellation areas, including Cantal, Fin Gras du Mézenc, Lentille verte du Puy.
CantalFin Gras du MézencLentille verte du PuySalersBleu d'AuvergneAgneau de LozèreVolailles du VelayGénisse Fleur d'AubracPintade de l’ArdèchePoulet de l'ArdècheVolailles du ForezJambon d'Auvergne
Distinctions
Plus Beaux Détours de France (2)
- Marquis de Lafayette
- Parc du château Lafayette
Station classée de tourisme (40)
Risks
Safety score
9/10
Flood risk
Very high
% communes flood-exposed (GASPAR union)
p93 of 96
Fire risk
Low
Copernicus FWI · fire-weather index
p35 of 96
Seismic exposure
Very high
% in a seismic zone (most of France is)
p80 of 96
Major risks present
Share of the department's communes listing each risk category
Flooding Very high 100% p95 of 96
Earthquake Very high 100% p80 of 96
Radon Very high 100% p93 of 96
Severe weather High 68.9% p71 of 96
Ground movement Moderate 55.3% p37 of 96
Wildfire Moderate 46.7% p76 of 96
Subsidence & cavities Moderate 43.2% p42 of 96
Hazardous-materials transport Low 30% p29 of 96
+2 more
Dam failure Very low 19.5% p71 of 96
Industrial hazard Very low 0.4% p9 of 96
Transport
Transport
3/10
4.5 h to Paris · TGV + closeness
TGV access
No
TGV via connecting city
Highways
1
A75
Work locally
30.1%
work in own commune
Nearest hubs
🏙 Nearest city
Le Puy → Lyon (~1h30)
✈ Airport
Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne airport (CFE) · ~89 km
🚄 To Paris via TGV
No direct TGV
🛣 Highways
A75
Services
Healthcare
6/10
APL 3.5
p48 of 96
Schools
9/10
Brevet 94%
p98 of 96
Fiber coverage
83%
p2 of 96
Intl schools
1school
International programmes available
p31 of 96
People
Population
228,443
p17 of 96
Density
46/km²
Rural
-43% vs median 81
32 387
Pop trend
+0.1%/yr
-0.1 pts vs median · p39
Median income
$25,200
standard of living · $/yr
p40 of 96
Poverty rate
12.3%
below 60% of median living standard
p19 of 96
Unemployment
8.6%
active population out of work
p6 of 96
Tourism
1 bed per 30 residents
p59 of 96 · 7,743 beds
Age distribution · % of population
0-14
17%
15-24
12%
25-39
13%
40-54
14%
55-69
19%
70+
25%
Office professionals
10.3%
cadres · engineers, managers, professionals
p9 of 96
Remote work
4.9%
télétravail · works without commuting
p66 of 96
Socio-professional mix · % of occupied workers
Office
Managers & professionals
10.3%
At-home trades
Farmers
4.5%
Artisans & shopkeepers
8.4%
On-site · services, health, teaching, manual
Intermediate professions incl. nurses, teachers
25.9%
Clerical & service staff
26.5%
Manual workers
24.4%
Real estate
Median
$1,430/m²
$590 $2,700
House $1,430 Apt $1,480
+0.9%/yr 2023–25
Median surface
—m²
Taxe foncière
41.91%
typical commune rate · TFPB
p34 of 96
Price distribution across communes · $/m²
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