Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Angers vs Rennes: 2026 comparison

Rennes has more inhabitants than Angers: 234,950 versus 162,290, or 45% more. Rennes is both larger (50.4 km² versus 42.7 km²) and more densely populated (4,663 inhabitants per km² versus 3,800).

The median apartment price is higher in Rennes: €3,719 per m² versus €3,163. The median standard of living is higher in Rennes (€25,100 a year versus €23,930).

The two cities are 110 km apart as the crow flies.

AngersRennes
AngersRennes110 km as the crow flies

Angers

City in Maine-et-Loire

Maine-et-Loire49Pays de la Loire

Population
162,290 inhab.
18th in France · 1st in its department
Area
42.7 km²
Density
3,800 per km²
Full profile of Angers

Rennes

City in Ille-et-Vilaine

Ille-et-Vilaine35Brittany

Population
234,950 inhab.
11th in France · 1st in its department
Area
50.4 km²
Density
4,663 per km²
Full profile of Rennes

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

AngersRennes

Population: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Rennes+45%162,290234,950More populous: Rennes+45%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Rennes+3.1 pts+2.9%+6.0%Stronger growth: Rennes+3.1 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Rennes+3.3 pts+5.9%+9.2%Stronger growth: Rennes+3.3 pts
Density per km²Denser: Rennes+23%3,8004,663Denser: Rennes+23%
Under 15More young people: Angers+0.6 pt14.7%14.1%More young people: Angers+0.6 pt
65 and overMore seniors: Angers+3.6 pts17.9%14.3%More seniors: Angers+3.6 pts
People per householdLarger households: Rennes+0.011.811.82Larger households: Rennes+0.01

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Rennes+18%3,1633,719More expensive: Rennes+18%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Rennes+46%3,2924,821More expensive: Rennes+46%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Rennes+2%14.614.9More expensive: Rennes+2%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Rennes+15%13.315.3More expensive: Rennes+15%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Rennes+2.2 pts31.6%33.8%More homeowners: Rennes+2.2 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Angers+9.7 pts21.7%12.0%More houses: Angers+9.7 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Angers+7.1 pts38.6%31.5%More social housing: Angers+7.1 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Rennes+1.3 pt3.4%4.8%More second homes: Rennes+1.3 pt
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Rennes+0.5 pt5.9%6.5%More vacant homes: Rennes+0.5 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Angers+9.0 pts56.65%47.70%Higher rate: Angers+9.0 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

Income and jobs: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Rennes+5%23,93025,100Higher: Rennes+5%
Poverty rateHigher: Rennes+0.7 pt22.0%22.7%Higher: Rennes+0.7 pt
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Rennes+7%€28,236€30,294Higher: Rennes+7%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Rennes+3.0 pts44%47%More taxpaying households: Rennes+3.0 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Angers+1.9 pt71.0%69.1%Higher: Angers+1.9 pt
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Angers+1.6 pt15.4%13.8%Higher: Angers+1.6 pt

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
MayorChristophe BéchuNathalie Appéré
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)miscellaneous centreunion of the left
Premises with fiberTie97%97%Tie

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Angers+10%60.7985 in total55.41,301 in totalMore shops per capita: Angers+10%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angers+6%16.9274 in total15.9373 in totalMore per capita: Angers+6%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rennes+7%33.7547 in total35.9844 in totalMore per capita: Rennes+7%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angers2.0 times as high18.4299 in total9.1213 in totalMore per capita: Angers2.0 times as high
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rennes+6%1.626 in total1.740 in totalMore per capita: Rennes+6%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angers+12%1.727 in total1.535 in totalMore per capita: Angers+12%
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Rennes+123More stations: Rennes+1

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Angers+25%6.04.8Better access: Angers+25%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angers+46%15.3248 in total10.5246 in totalMore per capita: Angers+46%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angers+17%22.4364 in total19.2451 in totalMore per capita: Angers+17%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rennes+21%5.995 in total7.1167 in totalMore per capita: Rennes+21%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angers+9%2.643 in total2.457 in totalMore per capita: Angers+9%
HospitalsMore facilities: Rennes+171936More facilities: Rennes+17

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

Education: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Rennes+2674100More schools: Rennes+26
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Angers+22725More middle schools: Angers+2
High schoolsMore high schools: Rennes+82129More high schools: Rennes+8
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Rennes+5349102More facilities: Rennes+53

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Rennes2.8 times as high1.74.8Higher rate: Rennes2.8 times as high
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rennes+60%13.120.9Higher rate: Rennes+60%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rennes+16%3.64.2Higher rate: Rennes+16%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rennes+65%1.21.9Higher rate: Rennes+65%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Angers+3%11.010.7Higher rate: Angers+3%

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

Climate: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Angers+0.2 °C12.6°C12.4°CWarmer: Angers+0.2 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Angers+5%1,8451,762Sunnier: Angers+5%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Angers+3%709691Wetter: Angers+3%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Rennes+4 days/year111115More rainy days: Rennes+4 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Angers+2 days/year3230More frost days: Angers+2 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Angers+5 days/year149More hot days: Angers+5 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Angers+92314More declarations: Angers+9
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Angers+121More plans: Angers+1
Radon potentialSameSignificantSignificantSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Angers and Rennes compared
CriterionAngersRennesDifference
Area km²Larger: Rennes+18%42.750.4Larger: Rennes+18%
Town hall elevationHigher: Angers+11 m44 m32 mHigher: Angers+11 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentMaine-et-Loire (49)Ille-et-Vilaine (35)
IntercommunalityCommunauté urbaine Angers Loire MétropoleRennes Métropole
Urban unitAngersRennes
Functional areaAngersRennes

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Angers vs Rennes at a glance

Summary table: Angers and Rennes
CriterionAngersRennes
Population inhab.162,290234,950
Change over 10 years+5.9%+9.2%
Density per km²3,8004,663
Median apartment price €/m²3,1633,719
Median house price €/m²3,2924,821
Apartment rent €/m²14.614.9
Property tax (combined rate)56.65%47.70%
Median standard of living €/year23,93025,100
Unemployment rate (census)15.4%13.8%
Premises with fiber97%97%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year6.04.8
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes1.74.8
Average temperature12.6°C12.4°C
Sunshine h/year1,8451,762
Area km²42.750.4

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Angers vs Rennes: your questions

Which is the larger city, Angers or Rennes?

By population, Rennes: 234,950 inhabitants versus 162,290 for Angers (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Rennes is the 11th largest city in France, Angers the 18th. By area, Rennes is also the larger (50.4 km²).

How far is Angers from Rennes?

Angers and Rennes are 110 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Angers or Rennes?

To buy an apartment, Rennes is more expensive: €3,719 per m² (median price), versus €3,163 in Angers (+18%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Angers or Rennes?

In Rennes, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,100 a year, versus €23,930 in Angers (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Angers or Rennes?

Angers: 1,845 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,762 in Rennes (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

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