The inhabitants of his commune are the richest in the Loire: “A false image”

“L’Étrat, The city in the countryside! » It’s not the mayor who says this, but his city’s website.

Yves Morand is the councilor of L’Étrat, 7 km from Saint-Etienne, the town where the richest inhabitants of the Loire live, according to 2024 data from the Observatory of Inequalities.

“She’s amazing,” reacts straight offthe mayor, interviewed on the telephone by -.fr.

Very rich families

For him, the reality on the ground is more complex than the figures announced. As a reminder :

• median standard of living: 2,288 euros
• minimum standard of living of the richest 10%: 4 870 euros (the highest in the Loire).

Mayor for more than 30 years, he remembers: “When I arrived here, we called the town ‘the little village of seven castles’.

The town has long been inhabited by old notable families. (from silk to Kemlin – creators of Casino). “Very well-off people,” recognizes the chief magistrate.

“It’s a false image of the city”

Attached to social diversity, he had social housing built when he arrived at town hall. “We don’t do politics,” repeats the recently retired former doctor.

The mayor lists the measures taken: 250 social housing units (half private stock and subsidized rental), pavilion operation at 100,000 euros…

I thought that all these (land planning) actions would mean that we would no longer be in this ranking. Apparently not. For me, this is a non-event. I’ve been fighting against this (inequalities) for years. This is a false image of the city.

“When you go to the end of the schools, the population is very mixed and diverse, with simple people, of foreign origins, etc. As in all cities, there are social cases! »

Natural area, proximity to Saint-Etienne

According to him, 80% of the population (2,800 inhabitants) are in the middle/low class. Some live in public housing.

However, he knows that many liberal professions, surgeons, lawyers, come to settle in pavilions in the town.

The State has many advantages:

• 80 % of the city is located in a natural zone
• Local shops, including a Carrefour and an Intermarché
• Proximity to Saint-Etienne and Stas public transport (lines 17, 27 and 37)

“Houses are torn down in one night”

Real estate, an interesting theme for understanding the sociology of residents, is taking off in L’Étrat.

“The price of houses is very expensive. A house is destroyed in one night. People with purchasing power do not hesitate to buy houses and renovate them for good sums,” underlines the mayor.

According to Meilleurs agents, the average price per m² is 2 665 € (€1,278 in Saint-Etienne) to buy an apartment, compared to €2,876 (€1,968 in Saint-Etienne) for a house.

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