2026 comparison
Aix-en-Provence vs Le Mans: 2026 comparison
Aix-en-Provence has more inhabitants than Le Mans: 152,854 versus 148,876, or 2.7% more. Aix-en-Provence covers a larger area (186 km² versus 52.8 km²), but Le Mans is more densely populated: 2,819 inhabitants per km² versus 821.
The median apartment price is higher in Aix-en-Provence: €4,797 per m² versus €1,875. The median standard of living is higher in Aix-en-Provence (€29,010 a year versus €23,610).
The two cities are 637 km apart as the crow flies.
Aix-en-Provence
City in Bouches-du-Rhône
FBouches-du-Rhône13Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Population
- 152,854 inhab.
- 22nd in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 186 km²
- Density
- 821 per km²
Le Mans
City in Sarthe
- Population
- 148,876 inhab.
- 24th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 52.8 km²
- Density
- 2,819 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Aix-en-ProvenceLe Mans
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Aix-en-Provence+3% | 152,854 | 148,876 | More populous: Aix-en-Provence+3% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+2.5 pts | +4.6% | +2.1% | Stronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+2.5 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+4.4 pts | +5.8% | +1.4% | Stronger growth: Aix-en-Provence+4.4 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Le Mans3.4 times as high | 821 | 2,819 | Denser: Le Mans3.4 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Le Mans+3.6 pts | 12.8% | 16.3% | More young people: Le Mans+3.6 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Le Mans+2.1 pts | 20.0% | 22.2% | More seniors: Le Mans+2.1 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Le Mans+0.08 | 1.84 | 1.92 | Larger households: Le Mans+0.08 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.6 times as high | 4,797 | 1,875 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.6 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.9 times as high | 6,137 | 2,153 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.9 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Aix-en-Provence+63% | 19.1 | 11.8 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence+63% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.0 times as high | 19.7 | 9.8 | More expensive: Aix-en-Provence2.0 times as high |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Le Mans+5.6 pts | 39.1% | 44.7% | More homeowners: Le Mans+5.6 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Le Mans+21 pts | 19.5% | 40.6% | More houses: Le Mans+21 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | 22.0% | — | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Aix-en-Provence+3.8 pts | 7.2% | 3.4% | More second homes: Aix-en-Provence+3.8 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Le Mans+1.4 pt | 8.0% | 9.5% | More vacant homes: Le Mans+1.4 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Le Mans+12 pts | 36.02% | 47.80% | Higher rate: Le Mans+12 pts |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Aix-en-Provence+23% | 29,010 | 23,610 | Higher: Aix-en-Provence+23% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Le Mans+6.5 pts | 16.4% | 22.9% | Higher: Le Mans+6.5 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Aix-en-Provence+54% | €41,363 | €26,832 | Higher: Aix-en-Provence+54% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Aix-en-Provence+11 pts | 54% | 43% | More taxpaying households: Aix-en-Provence+11 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Le Mans+2.2 pts | 70.9% | 73.1% | Higher: Le Mans+2.2 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Le Mans+4.6 pts | 11.2% | 15.7% | Higher: Le Mans+4.6 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Sophie Joissains | Stéphane Le Foll | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | Socialist Party | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Le Mans+2.1 pts | 96% | 98% | Better covered: Le Mans+2.1 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Aix-en-Provence+76% | 90.91,390 in total | 51.7769 in total | More shops per capita: Aix-en-Provence+76% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+60% | 26.5405 in total | 16.6247 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+60% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence2.3 times as high | 60.1918 in total | 25.7382 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence2.3 times as high |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Le Mans+22% | 17.1262 in total | 20.9311 in total | More per capita: Le Mans+22% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+36% | 2.132 in total | 1.523 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+36% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+48% | 2.944 in total | 1.929 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+48% |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Aix-en-Provence+50% | 5.0 | 3.3 | Better access: Aix-en-Provence+50% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence2.5 times as high | 14.4220 in total | 5.887 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence2.5 times as high |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+71% | 39.9610 in total | 23.3347 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+71% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+99% | 11.4174 in total | 5.785 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+99% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+18% | 3.351 in total | 2.842 in total | More per capita: Aix-en-Provence+18% |
| HospitalsTie | 17 | 17 | Tie |
Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)
Education
Schools and colleges
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Aix-en-Provence+2 | 88 | 86 | More schools: Aix-en-Provence+2 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Le Mans+7 | 20 | 27 | More middle schools: Le Mans+7 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Aix-en-Provence+2 | 21 | 19 | More high schools: Aix-en-Provence+2 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Aix-en-Provence+29 | 56 | 27 | More facilities: Aix-en-Provence+29 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Le Mans+16% | 6.2 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Le Mans+16% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Aix-en-Provence+47% | 14.6 | 9.9 | Higher rate: Aix-en-Provence+47% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Le Mans+15% | 4.3 | 4.9 | Higher rate: Le Mans+15% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Aix-en-Provence2.8 times as high | 4.1 | 1.5 | Higher rate: Aix-en-Provence2.8 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Le Mans+1% | 9.4 | 9.5 | Higher rate: Le Mans+1% |
Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)
Climate
Temperature, sunshine and rain
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Aix-en-Provence+2.3 °C | 14.7°C | 12.4°C | Warmer: Aix-en-Provence+2.3 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Aix-en-Provence+59% | 2,873 | 1,809 | Sunnier: Aix-en-Provence+59% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Le Mans+14% | 609 | 693 | Wetter: Le Mans+14% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Le Mans+53 days/year | 59 | 112 | More rainy days: Le Mans+53 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Aix-en-Provence+3 days/year | 43 | 40 | More frost days: Aix-en-Provence+3 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Aix-en-Provence+40 days/year | 55 | 15 | More hot days: Aix-en-Provence+40 days/year |
Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals
Natural hazards
Natural disasters and prevention
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Le Mans+1 | 28 | 29 | More declarations: Le Mans+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Aix-en-Provence+3 | 4 | 1 | More plans: Aix-en-Provence+3 |
| Radon potential | Low, with aggravating factors | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Aix-en-Provence3.5 times as high | 186 | 52.8 | Larger: Aix-en-Provence3.5 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Aix-en-Provence+134 m | 198 m | 64 m | Higher: Aix-en-Provence+134 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Bouches-du-Rhône (13) | Sarthe (72) | |
| Intercommunality | Métropole d'Aix-Marseille-Provence | Communauté urbaine Le Mans Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Marseille-Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans | |
| Functional area | Marseille - Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Aix-en-Provence vs Le Mans at a glance
| Criterion | Aix-en-Provence | Le Mans |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 152,854 | 148,876 |
| Change over 10 years | +5.8% | +1.4% |
| Density per km² | 821 | 2,819 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 4,797 | 1,875 |
| Median house price €/m² | 6,137 | 2,153 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 19.1 | 11.8 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 36.02% | 47.80% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 29,010 | 23,610 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 11.2% | 15.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.0 | 3.3 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.2 | 7.2 |
| Average temperature | 14.7°C | 12.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,873 | 1,809 |
| Area km² | 186 | 52.8 |
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FAQ
Aix-en-Provence vs Le Mans: your questions
Which is the larger city, Aix-en-Provence or Le Mans?
By population, Aix-en-Provence: 152,854 inhabitants versus 148,876 for Le Mans (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Aix-en-Provence is the 22nd largest city in France, Le Mans the 24th. By area, Aix-en-Provence is also the larger (186 km²).
How far is Aix-en-Provence from Le Mans?
Aix-en-Provence and Le Mans are 637 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Aix-en-Provence or Le Mans?
To buy an apartment, Aix-en-Provence is more expensive: €4,797 per m² (median price), versus €1,875 in Le Mans (+156%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Aix-en-Provence or Le Mans?
In Aix-en-Provence, half of the residents have a standard of living above €29,010 a year, versus €23,610 in Le Mans (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Aix-en-Provence or Le Mans?
Aix-en-Provence: 2,873 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,809 in Le Mans (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures