# Living in Pilar de la Horadada: natural hazards, housing and amenities Pilar de la Horadada is a municipality in the province of Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, with 24,316 registered residents (1 January 2025). The centre lies in a mapped flood area. Resale homes pay 9 % transfer tax (ITP). This overview covers 8 topics from official open data, measured at the centre; values at a specific address can differ. As of: 9 November 2026 · Source: https://www.place-check.com/places/spain/pilar-de-la-horadada ## About Pilar de la Horadada ### Pilar de la Horadada: everyday life between southern Alicante and the Mediterranean Pilar de la Horadada sits at the southern end of Alicante province, in the Comunitat Valenciana, beside the boundary with Murcia. Part of the Vega Baja del Segura area, it combines an inland town centre with a Mediterranean coastal strip that includes Torre de la Horadada. That distinction matters when choosing a home: living in the town is not the same as living beside the beach. With around **24,300 residents**, and population growth of **8.8% over five years**, Pilar is more than a seasonal resort. Its agricultural surroundings, established town life and coastal housing give it several overlapping identities. For people moving here, the main questions are how often they need to travel, whether they want beach access or town-centre convenience, and the flood exposure of the particular property. ### Living in Pilar de la Horadada: town and coast are different choices The inland centre provides the municipal and shopping focus, while Torre de la Horadada has a more maritime character. Its historic coastal watchtower is a reminder that this shoreline once needed defending; today, the beaches and waterfront are central to its appeal. The landscape around Pilar is relatively open, with cultivated land separating built-up areas. This is the southern Alicante coast rather than the mountainous landscape found farther north in the province. Beach walks and coastal leisure are therefore more immediate attractions than mountain living. The coastal areas experience a stronger summer holiday rhythm than the inland town. Anyone considering a permanent move should experience both settings outside the holiday season: a waterfront location and a home close to everyday town services offer different routines. ### Shops, healthcare and families in the town centre The mapped services around the centre suggest a useful base for daily errands. Within 2 km, OpenStreetMap lists five supermarkets and grocery shops, five schools and a doctor’s practice, alongside places to eat and drink. These are mapping records, not a complete directory or a measure of capacity. The nearest mapped supermarket is about 950 m from the centre in a straight line, and the nearest doctor or health centre about 650 m. That makes the exact address important even within the town: a seemingly central home may still involve carrying shopping some distance, and the walking route will be longer than a straight-line measurement. For families, the presence of schools is encouraging, but it does not establish admission availability, teaching languages or the suitability of a particular school. Those details need checking directly. Retirees should similarly distinguish between having a nearby medical practice and having access to the particular care they require. ### Commuting from Pilar: road access matters more than rail Pilar’s transport position favours road travel. The nearest motorway is about 1.1 km from the centre, with exit 770 about 2 km away. That access is useful for households whose work, shopping or social lives extend beyond the municipality. Public transport requires more scrutiny. No railway line runs within 12 km of the centre, and the nearest mapped public transport stop is about 650 m away. A stop’s proximity says little about service frequency or useful connections. The supplied weekday-morning routing gives about 395 minutes to Alicante/Alacant with three changes. That is a strong warning against assuming that a workable car journey translates into a practical public-transport commute; check current timetables for the actual journey required. Alicante-Elche Airport is about 50 km away in a straight line, not by road. International residents should assess the full airport journey rather than treating that figure as a transfer distance. ### Flood risk deserves close attention before moving The most consequential finding is that the measured centre lies within Spain’s national **10-year river flood area**, with modelled water depth of about **0.6 m**. A “10-year” flood is a statistical description, not a promise that flooding happens only once each decade. This is a centre-point result, not a finding for every home in Pilar. Nevertheless, it makes address-level flood checking essential, including the position of entrances, garages and access routes. Noise needs a separate check. The centre falls outside the strategic noise-map contours supplied, but those maps cover major transport sources and large urban areas. They do not establish whether a property is quiet beside local traffic, hospitality venues or seasonal activity. ### Who Pilar suits—and what to check at the address Pilar is worth considering for people seeking an established southern Alicante town with access to Mediterranean beaches, particularly households comfortable using a car. Remote workers and retirees may find that combination more practical than people needing frequent rail travel or a public-transport commute to Alicante. Before choosing a property, check its flood mapping, actual walking routes to shops and healthcare, school arrangements where relevant, and street conditions in both summer and the quieter season. For remote work, confirm connectivity at the property itself. Above all, choose deliberately between inland town life and the coastal setting: they belong to the same municipality, but offer different versions of everyday Pilar. ## Where Pilar de la Horadada is Pilar de la Horadada is a municipality in the province of Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain (INE municipality code 03902). The centre lies at about 30 m above sea level, on a valley floor. - Province: Alicante - Autonomous community: Comunitat Valenciana - INE code: 03902 - Elevation of the centre: 30 m ## Population Pilar de la Horadada had 24,316 registered residents on 1 January 2025 (+8.8 % over five years), according to the municipal register (padrón). The mean age is 43.8 years; 22.2 % of residents are 65 or older; 17.7 % are under 18 (2024). The average household has 2.5 people. Average net income is €12,482 per person and €32,827 per household a year (2024, INE household income atlas, based on tax records). - Residents (1 Jan 2025): 24,316 - Change over five years: +8.8 % - Mean age: 43.8 years - Net income per person (2024): €12,482 ## Housing: prices, rents and purchase taxes In Comunitat Valenciana, house prices changed by +13.0 % over the last year (resale homes: +13.8 %) and by +54.5 % over five years, according to the INE house price index (IPV) for 2026Q2. The index is only published per autonomous community and does not give prices per square metre. Rents in Pilar de la Horadada changed by +4.3 % year on year in 2024 (INE rental price index, IPVA). Buying a resale home in Comunitat Valenciana costs transfer tax (ITP) of 9 % of the price, rising on a scale to 11 % above €1,000,000. A new home bought from a developer pays 10 % VAT (IVA) plus stamp duty (AJD, 0.5 to 1.5 % depending on the region) instead. Reduced rates exist, for example for young buyers, large families or a main residence. Pilar de la Horadada is not a declared stressed rental market area under Spain's 2023 Housing Act (declarations published up to 3 November 2026), so the rent caps for such areas do not apply. - House prices, year on year (Comunitat Valenciana): +13.0 % - House prices, five years: +54.5 % - Rents, year on year (2024): +4.3 % - Transfer tax (ITP), resale: 9 % - Stressed rental area: no ## Everyday life and amenities Within 2 km of the centre, OpenStreetMap lists 5 supermarkets and groceries, 9 restaurants, 2 cafés, 1 bar, 5 schools, 1 doctor's practice and 3 public transport stops. Nearest to the centre, in a straight line: supermarket, about 950 m; doctor or health centre, about 650 m; public transport stop, about 650 m. ## Noise and traffic The nearest motorway runs about 1.1 km from the centre. No railway line runs within 12.0 km. The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Alicante-Elche (ALC), about 50 km in a straight line. The centre is not inside any noise contour of the strategic noise maps (European Environment Agency, 2022); the maps only cover major roads, railways, airports and large urban areas, so this is no guarantee of quiet. ## Natural hazards The centre lies inside the 10-year river flood area of Spain's national flood mapping system (SNCZI), with a modelled water depth of about 0.6 m: statistically, a flood of that extent occurs once in 10 years. Small streams and dry riverbeds (ramblas), flash floods after torrential rain (DANA) and urban runoff are largely not mapped: "not mapped" does not mean "no risk". Under Spain's seismic building code (NCSE-02), Pilar de la Horadada has a basic seismic acceleration of 0.12 g, so buildings must be designed to resist earthquakes. Since 2000, the European seismic catalogue (EMSC) lists 46 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 km, the strongest of magnitude 4.5 (2003). Radon: the radon potential map of Spain's Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) puts the area at 101-200 Bq/m³ (P90, class 2 of 5), below the 300 Bq/m³ reference level. Actual indoor levels depend on the building; only a measurement gives certainty. No landslides or other ground movements are documented within 2 km of the centre (IGME BDMoves inventory). - Flood area at the centre: T10 - Seismic acceleration (NCSE-02): 0.12 g - Radon potential (P90): 101-200 Bq/m³ ## Connections and internet By public transport from the centre on a weekday morning (from 07:30): about 395 min to Alicante/Alacant (3 changes) and about 520 min to Madrid (4 changes). The nearest motorway junction (exit 770) is about 2.0 km from the centre. 99 % of households in Pilar de la Horadada can get fibre to the home (FTTH) and 95 % at least 1 Gbit/s; 5G reaches 99 % (operator data, 2025). Coverage can differ from street to street. ## Climate and sun On 21 December the centre gets about 8:48 h of direct sun, on 21 June about 13:30 h (terrain only; buildings and trees not included). A solar PV system at the optimal tilt yields about 1,680 kWh per kWp a year here (PVGIS). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a flood risk in Pilar de la Horadada? The centre lies inside the 10-year river flood area of Spain's national flood mapping system (SNCZI), with a modelled water depth of about 0.6 m: statistically, a flood of that extent occurs once in 10 years. Small streams and dry riverbeds (ramblas), flash floods after torrential rain (DANA) and urban runoff are largely not mapped: "not mapped" does not mean "no risk". For an exact address, Place Check creates a separate report with the values at that point. ### What purchase tax do you pay when buying a home in Pilar de la Horadada? Buying a resale home in Comunitat Valenciana costs transfer tax (ITP) of 9 % of the price, rising on a scale to 11 % above €1,000,000. A new home bought from a developer pays 10 % VAT (IVA) plus stamp duty (AJD, 0.5 to 1.5 % depending on the region) instead. Reduced rates exist, for example for young buyers, large families or a main residence. For an exact address, Place Check creates a separate report with the values at that point. ### Is Pilar de la Horadada a stressed rental market area? Pilar de la Horadada is not a declared stressed rental market area under Spain's 2023 Housing Act (declarations published up to 3 November 2026), so the rent caps for such areas do not apply. For an exact address, Place Check creates a separate report with the values at that point. ### Is Pilar de la Horadada in an earthquake zone? Under Spain's seismic building code (NCSE-02), Pilar de la Horadada has a basic seismic acceleration of 0.12 g, so buildings must be designed to resist earthquakes. Since 2000, the European seismic catalogue (EMSC) lists 46 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 km, the strongest of magnitude 4.5 (2003). For an exact address, Place Check creates a separate report with the values at that point. ### How many people live in Pilar de la Horadada? Pilar de la Horadada had 24,316 registered residents on 1 January 2025 (INE). For an exact address, Place Check creates a separate report with the values at that point. ### Are there schools and shops in Pilar de la Horadada? Within 2 km of the centre, OpenStreetMap lists 5 supermarkets and groceries, 9 restaurants, 2 cafés, 1 bar, 5 schools, 1 doctor's practice and 3 public transport stops. For an exact address, Place Check creates a separate report with the values at that point. ## Sources - Photon geocoder (OpenStreetMap data) (komoot / OpenStreetMap contributors; ODbL 1.0): https://photon.komoot.io - CartoCiudad reverse geocoding (municipio, provincia, comunidad autónoma) (Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) / CNIG, CartoCiudad; CC BY 4.0; data 2025-02): https://www.cartociudad.es/geocoder/api/geocoder - INE: Padrón municipal (population), Atlas de distribución de renta de los hogares (ADRH: demographics, income) (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE); INE terms of use (free reuse incl. commercial, citing the source); data padrón 1 Jan 2025; ADRH 2024): https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177088&menu=ultiDatos&idp=1254735976608 - INE Índice de Precios de Vivienda (IPV, base 2025, by comunidad autónoma) and Índice de Precios de Vivienda en Alquiler (IPVA, by municipality) (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE); INE terms of use (free reuse incl. commercial, citing the source); data 2020Q3-2026Q2): https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736152838&menu=ultiDatos&idp=1254735976607 - OpenStreetMap via OpenFreeMap vector tiles (OpenMapTiles schema) (OpenStreetMap contributors; tiles: OpenFreeMap (fallback VersaTiles); ODbL 1.0 (OpenStreetMap data); OpenMapTiles schema CC BY 4.0; data 2026-11-01): https://openfreemap.org/ - Transitous stop index (MOTIS 2 map/stops) (Transitous (community service); timetable data per transitous.org/sources; Transitous usage policy: non-commercial only (fallback, replace before launch); data per source licences; data 2026-11-09): https://transitous.org/sources/ - Transitous public transport routing (MOTIS 2) (Transitous (community service); timetable data per transitous.org/sources; Transitous usage policy: non-commercial only (fallback, replace before launch); data per source licences, OSM ODbL; data 2026-11-10): https://transitous.org/sources/ - Strategic noise maps (Environmental Noise Directive, round 2022), EEA noise contours (European Environment Agency (EEA), data reported by the member states; EEA standard re-use policy (CC BY 4.0); data 2022): https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/noise - Purchase taxes (ITP by comunidad autónoma; IVA / AJD) and stressed rental zones (Ley 12/2023), static tables (Regional tax laws (BOE / regional gazettes); Ministerio de Vivienda y Agenda Urbana, quarterly BOE resolutions; Official legal texts (BOE: free reuse, Real Decreto 1495/2011); data 2026-11-04): https://www.boe.es/ - SNCZI flood hazard maps T10/T100/T500 (fluvial) and T500 (coastal), INSPIRE WMS (Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO), served by the IDEE / IGN; CC BY 4.0): https://sig.miteco.gob.es/snczi/ - BDMoves landslide inventory and Mapa de Movimientos del Terreno 1:1,000,000 (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC); CC BY 4.0): https://mapas.igme.es/gis/rest/services/BasesDatos/IGME_BDMoves_ES/MapServer - NCSE-02 seismic code, Annex 1 (basic acceleration per municipality); EMSC earthquake catalogue (FDSN event service) (Ministerio de Fomento / IGN (NCSE-02, BOE); European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC); BOE: free reuse; EMSC data policy (free use with attribution); data 2000-2026): https://www.seismicportal.eu/ - Mapa del potencial de radón de España (P90 classes), republished in the SIU (Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN); service: Ministerio de Vivienda y Agenda Urbana (SIU); CSN / MIVAU open data (reuse with attribution)): https://www.csn.es/mapa-del-potencial-de-radon-en-espana - Cobertura de banda ancha en España, by municipality (FTTH, ≥ 100 Mbit/s, ≥ 1 Gbit/s, 4G, 5G) (Ministerio para la Transformación Digital y de la Función Pública, Secretaría de Estado de Telecomunicaciones e Infraestructuras Digitales; Public sector information, free reuse with attribution (Ley 37/2007, RD 1495/2011; datos.gob.es); data 2025-06-30): https://digital.gob.es/telecomunicaciones-infraestructuras-digitales/areas-interes/banda-ancha/informacion-cobertura - Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (30 m surface model, read live) (European Space Agency (ESA) / Copernicus, served by AWS Open Data; Copernicus DEM licence (free use with attribution); data 2021): https://copernicus-dem-30m.s3.amazonaws.com/ - Terrain horizon + sun path, computed from Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (radius 20 km) (European Space Agency (ESA) / Copernicus, served by AWS Open Data; Copernicus DEM licence (free use with attribution); data 2021): https://copernicus-dem-30m.s3.amazonaws.com/ - PVGIS 5.3 PVcalc (1 kWp, crystalline Si, 14 % losses, optimal angles) (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC); EC reuse notice (Decision 2011/833/EU), reuse incl. commercial with acknowledgement; data PVGIS-SARAH3 2005-2023): https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/ --- What is it like at your address? Create a report for your exact address: https://www.place-check.com/es?address=Pilar%20de%20la%20Horadada