City · Castilla-La Mancha · All places
A ceramics town on the Tagus with cheap flats and a hard job market, a long drive from Madrid.
Talavera de la Reina sits on the north bank of the Tagus in the west of Toledo province, about halfway between Madrid and the Extremadura border. It is a real town with its own hospital, markets, shops, theatre and a small university campus, not a satellite of anywhere. It is best known for ceramics, the blue and yellow glazed tiles and plates that decorate churches and kitchens across Spain.
The city has 83,803 residents (2025). It is quiet, practical and low-cost, with an economy that has never fully recovered from the loss of its factories and building trade.
It suits people who want a cheap home in a normal Spanish town, with an income that does not depend on the local employers, and who are happy to drive.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Talavera de la Reina stands out for safety and healthcare; it is weaker on connectivity and jobs. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €361 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Talavera de la Reina’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
Few residents come from English-speaking or northern European countries, so daily life runs in Spanish. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
Frosty nights are common. Many older Spanish flats are poorly insulated: ask about heating and the winter energy bill.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Non-urgent surgery takes longer than in most of Spain (Castilla-La Mancha-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Partridge stew, carcamusas, roast lamb and big portions in plain bars.
Slow, local and family-run, with the paseo along the river as the main evening event.
Terraces on the Plaza del Pan and the streets around it, with little after midnight.
A walled old centre, a shopping core around Calle Trinidad and wide post-war estates beyond.
Spanish only, with a strong Castilian accent and very little English.
Las Mondas in spring honours the Virgen del Prado, and September brings the San Mateo fair.
Mostly long-established families, with a visible Moroccan and Romanian community.
Talavera is a town of habits. The morning market and the shops on Calle Trinidad fill up from ten, lunch is late and long, and the evening walk goes along the river and through the Plaza del Pan. Weekends are for family lunches, a drive to the Gredos mountains or the reservoirs, and for football on the television.
The old centre keeps stretches of medieval wall and several churches, and the basilica is lined with the local tiles. Around it are wide post-war avenues and newer estates with parks and playgrounds. The riverside has been turned into a long walking and cycling path, which is the nicest part of town on a spring evening.
Food is Castilian and generous: partridge stewed in the local style, carcamusas, roast meats, migas and good local cheese. Bars still put out a free tapa with a drink in many places. Nights end early, apart from the festival weeks, and a quiet Tuesday means closed shutters by midnight.
Las Mondas, a spring fiesta for the Virgen del Prado with flowers and processions, is the town's signature event, and the San Mateo fair follows in September. English is rare outside the schools, so Spanish is not optional.
Talavera was a Roman town and later a market and craft centre on the main road between Toledo and Extremadura. Pottery grew out of the clay by the river and from the demand of nearby churches and palaces, and the Talavera style spread through Spain and Latin America. The craft survives in a handful of workshops and in the tiled basilica of the patron Virgin, but it no longer employs the town.
The modern economy is thinner. Factories, food processing, building and logistics once gave steady work, and the 2008 crash hit them hard. Jobs come out weak and prosperity weak against similar places, and unemployment is 21.1% (2025). Young people with a degree usually leave for Madrid or abroad, and the share of adults with a degree is 34% (2024).
Low incomes explain the low prices. A flat of about seventy square metres rents for around €361 a month (2024), and buying costs €1,241 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing comes out average. Prices are rising from a low base, because Madrid workers have started to look this far out.
Distance explains the rest. Madrid is a long drive away, so Talavera works as a regional capital rather than a commuter suburb. The town is calm and safe on the street, and it comes out above average on safety, with recorded crime of 41.0 per 1,000 people (2024). Public healthcare comes out above average, and life expectancy is 83.8 years (2023).
Figures for Talavera de la Reina itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Talavera de la Reina data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Safety is above average: in the top quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Recorded crime: 41.0 per 1,000 people — better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 71 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 0.00 per 100k people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeTalavera de la Reina · 2024 | 41.0 per 1,000 people | better than 78% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 75.2 per 100k people | better than 55% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 89.5 per 100k people | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesTalavera de la Reina · 2024 | 0.34 per 1,000 people | better than 70% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 934 per 100k people | better than 69% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 71.6 per 100k people | better than 43% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is above average: better than most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.8 years — better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Above average: 66 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyTalavera de la Reina · 2023 | 83.8 years | better than 67% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Buying price per m²: 1,241 €/m² — better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 50 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Talavera de la Reina · 2024 | 5.16 €/m² a month | better than 92% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearTalavera de la Reina · 2024 | 4.20% | better than 19% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Talavera de la Reina · 2026-Q2 | 1,241 €/m² | better than 94% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsTalavera de la Reina · 2024 | 5.74% | better than 24% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearTalavera de la Reina · 2026-Q2 | 20.4% | better than 11% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Transport is around the middle: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Commute by public transport: 10.0% — worse than 65% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 45 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute (one way)Talavera de la Reina · 2021 | 38.7 minutes | better than 47% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carTalavera de la Reina · 2021 | 59.3% | better than 52% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportTalavera de la Reina · 2021 | 10.0% | better than 35% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is below average: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Days above 35 °C: 55.2 days a year — worse than 97% of major European cities
Below average: 34 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)Talavera de la Reina · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 83.0 days a year | better than 57% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CTalavera de la Reina · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 55.2 days a year | better than 3% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CTalavera de la Reina · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 45.6 nights a year | better than 19% of major European cities |
Digital is below average: behind most Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes with fibre to the door: 97.2% — worse than 77% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 34 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 97.8% | better than 40% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 97.2% | better than 23% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 100.0% | better than 42% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is weak: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 12,645 € a year per person — worse than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 11 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Household income per personTalavera de la Reina · 2024 | 12,645 € a year per person | better than 11% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is weak: in the bottom 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment: 21.1% — worse than 96% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 8 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 21.1% | better than 4% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearTalavera de la Reina · 2025 | 0.24 points | better than 15% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 124 km — worse than 100% of major European cities
Weak: 0 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to the main airportTalavera de la Reina · 2026-10-21 | 124 km | better than 0% of major European cities |
What we cannot score for Talavera de la Reina yet
Highs around 37° in July, lows around 2° in January. 83 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 46 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.1°C | 1.6°C | 34 mm |
| February | 14.4°C | 2.9°C | 28 mm |
| March | 17.1°C | 4.8°C | 49 mm |
| April | 20.5°C | 7.6°C | 52 mm |
| May | 26.2°C | 11.9°C | 29 mm |
| June | 31.6°C | 16.8°C | 19 mm |
| July | 36.7°C | 20.8°C | 7 mm |
| August | 36.0°C | 20.5°C | 11 mm |
| September | 29.5°C | 15.9°C | 31 mm |
| October | 24.0°C | 11.7°C | 61 mm |
| November | 16.8°C | 6.2°C | 46 mm |
| December | 13.5°C | 3.4°C | 38 mm |
Talavera is a flat river basin on the inland plateau, so the seasons are blunt. Summer days are long and dry, with 55 a year above thirty-five degrees (2015–2024). Warm nights are less of a problem than in the south: 46 a year (2015–2024). Air conditioning is a necessity and midday outdoor exercise is not realistic from July to early September. Spring and autumn are the seasons when the town is at its best, with terraces full and the river path busy.
Winters are cold at night and often foggy in the river valley, with frost on 22 a year (2015–2024). Rain is modest, at 404 mm a year a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days number only 83 a year (2015–2024), among the lowest in Spain, because the good weather is squeezed into spring and autumn. Climate comes out below average.
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40/100 · below average · 91st of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
21.1% in 2025
20.4% in Q2 2026
€5.2 per m² a month in 2024
€1,241 per m² in Q2 2026
83.8 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Talavera de la Reina. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Space, safe streets and low housing costs make this one of the easier towns for a family on a modest budget.
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Value for money in housing, but little of the polish that wealthy movers usually want.
Better nearby for high earners and investors: Toledo (64), Guadalajara (62), Ciudad Real (61)
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
One of the cheaper towns in Spain for rent and purchase, with proper public services.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Ciudad Real (65), Cuenca (64)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
A small university campus and a modest scene, so most students live at home or commute.
Better nearby for students: Ciudad Real (58)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
A calm, safe, low-cost town with a public hospital and a long riverside promenade, as long as the heat is bearable.
Better nearby for retirees: Cuenca (57), Guadalajara (55), Toledo (55)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
A deep craft tradition, but a small cultural calendar.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for culture, food and nightlife: Guadalajara (56), Toledo (56), Albacete (46)
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Fibre is widespread and the cost of living is low, but this is a place to work quietly, not to meet other remote workers.
Better nearby for remote workers: Cuenca (48), Albacete (46), Ciudad Real (43)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
Thin pickings: a limited employer base, and the best jobs are in Madrid.
Better nearby for young professionals: Toledo (56), Ciudad Real (51), Guadalajara (51)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Low costs help a shop, a workshop or a service business, but the customer base is local and incomes are low.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Guadalajara (48), Toledo (48), Ciudad Real (47)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
The Tagus, the reservoirs and the Gredos mountains are close, but the town itself is flat and hot.
Better nearby for beach, mountains and the outdoors: Cuenca (47), Albacete (39), Ciudad Real (39)
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Talavera de la Reina as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Talavera de la Reina; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €405 a month
Compare with Talavera de la Reina70 m²: €394 a month
Compare with Talavera de la Reina70 m²: €513 a month
Compare with Talavera de la Reina70 m²: €507 a month
Compare with Talavera de la Reina70 m²: €419 a month
Compare with Talavera de la ReinaGuide written 2026-10-22. Figures are refreshed as new official data is published; the period beside each number says what it covers. “Our read” cards are our inferences from those figures. How we score
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