2026 comparison
Angoulême vs Saintes: 2026 comparison
Angoulême has more inhabitants than Saintes: 43,454 versus 26,773, or 62% more. Saintes covers a larger area (45.6 km² versus 21.9 km²), but Angoulême is more densely populated: 1,989 inhabitants per km² versus 588.
The median apartment price is higher in Saintes: €1,992 per m² versus €1,614. The median standard of living is higher in Saintes (€24,560 a year versus €22,490).
The two cities are 62 km apart as the crow flies.
Angoulême
City in Charente
- Population
- 43,454 inhab.
- 179th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 21.9 km²
- Density
- 1,989 per km²
Saintes
City in Charente-Maritime
FCharente-Maritime17Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Population
- 26,773 inhab.
- 341st in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 45.6 km²
- Density
- 588 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
AngoulêmeSaintes
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Angoulême+62% | 43,454 | 26,773 | More populous: Angoulême+62% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saintes+0.4 pt | +0.5% | +0.9% | Stronger growth: Saintes+0.4 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Angoulême+0.8 pt | −0.1% | −0.9% | Smaller decline: Angoulême+0.8 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Angoulême3.4 times as high | 1,989 | 588 | Denser: Angoulême3.4 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Angoulême+2.3 pts | 13.9% | 11.6% | More young people: Angoulême+2.3 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saintes+11 pts | 20.8% | 31.8% | More seniors: Saintes+11 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Angoulême+0.01 | 1.73 | 1.72 | Larger households: Angoulême+0.01 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saintes+23% | 1,614 | 1,992 | More expensive: Saintes+23% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saintes+19% | 1,753 | 2,090 | More expensive: Saintes+19% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saintes+4% | 11.4 | 11.8 | More expensive: Saintes+4% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saintes+6% | 9.3 | 9.9 | More expensive: Saintes+6% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saintes+14 pts | 37.0% | 50.8% | More homeowners: Saintes+14 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saintes+14 pts | 43.7% | 58.1% | More houses: Saintes+14 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Angoulême+9.2 pts | 30.6% | 21.5% | More social housing: Angoulême+9.2 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Angoulême+0.5 pt | 3.1% | 2.7% | More second homes: Angoulême+0.5 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Angoulême+0.4 pt | 9.0% | 8.6% | More vacant homes: Angoulême+0.4 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Angoulême+3.8 pts | 62.48% | 58.70% | Higher rate: Angoulême+3.8 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 | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Saintes+9% | 22,490 | 24,560 | Higher: Saintes+9% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Angoulême+8.2 pts | 26.1% | 17.9% | Higher: Angoulême+8.2 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Saintes+10% | €24,133 | €26,587 | Higher: Saintes+10% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saintes+3.2 pts | 40% | 43% | More taxpaying households: Saintes+3.2 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Angoulême+0.4 pt | 73.4% | 73.1% | Higher: Angoulême+0.4 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Angoulême+3.9 pts | 18.3% | 14.4% | Higher: Angoulême+3.9 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Xavier Bonnefont | Bruno Drapron | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous centre | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 95% | 95% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saintes+53% | 74.3323 in total | 113.9305 in total | More shops per capita: Saintes+53% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes+51% | 19.183 in total | 28.877 in total | More per capita: Saintes+51% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angoulême+12% | 47.4206 in total | 42.2113 in total | More per capita: Angoulême+12% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes2.0 times as high | 20.790 in total | 42.2113 in total | More per capita: Saintes2.0 times as high |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Angoulême+4% | 5.122 in total | 4.913 in total | More per capita: Angoulême+4% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes2.4 times as high | 2.812 in total | 6.718 in total | More per capita: Saintes2.4 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saintes+84% | 2.8 | 5.2 | Better access: Saintes+84% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes3.5 times as high | 5.825 in total | 20.254 in total | More per capita: Saintes3.5 times as high |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes+60% | 18.480 in total | 29.579 in total | More per capita: Saintes+60% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes+73% | 6.930 in total | 12.032 in total | More per capita: Saintes+73% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saintes+62% | 3.013 in total | 4.913 in total | More per capita: Saintes+62% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Angoulême+1 | 8 | 7 | More facilities: Angoulême+1 |
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 | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Angoulême+9 | 28 | 19 | More schools: Angoulême+9 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Angoulême+2 | 8 | 6 | More middle schools: Angoulême+2 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Angoulême+3 | 10 | 7 | More high schools: Angoulême+3 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Angoulême+17 | 18 | 1 | More facilities: Angoulême+17 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saintes+22% | 5.2 | 6.4 | Higher rate: Saintes+22% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Angoulême+25% | 16.1 | 12.9 | Higher rate: Angoulême+25% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Angoulême+44% | 7.9 | 5.5 | Higher rate: Angoulême+44% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Angoulême+15% | 2.4 | 2.1 | Higher rate: Angoulême+15% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saintes+2% | 18.3 | 18.8 | Higher rate: Saintes+2% |
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 | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saintes+0.1 °C | 13.2°C | 13.3°C | Warmer: Saintes+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,043 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saintes+7% | 845 | 907 | Wetter: Saintes+7% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saintes+2 days/year | 122 | 123 | More rainy days: Saintes+2 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Angoulême+13 days/year | 42 | 29 | More frost days: Angoulême+13 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Angoulême+6 days/year | 27 | 20 | More hot days: Angoulême+6 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 | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saintes+1 | 23 | 24 | More declarations: Saintes+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saintes2.1 times as high | 21.9 | 45.6 | Larger: Saintes2.1 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Angoulême+90 m | 98 m | 7 m | Higher: Angoulême+90 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| Department | Charente (16) | Charente-Maritime (17) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Grand Angoulême | Communauté d'agglomération de Saintes - Grandes Rives - L'Agglo | |
| Urban unit | Angoulême | Saintes | |
| Functional area | Angoulême | Saintes |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Angoulême vs Saintes at a glance
| Criterion | Angoulême | Saintes |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 43,454 | 26,773 |
| Change over 10 years | −0.1% | −0.9% |
| Density per km² | 1,989 | 588 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,614 | 1,992 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,753 | 2,090 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 62.48% | 58.70% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,490 | 24,560 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 18.3% | 14.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 2.8 | 5.2 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 5.2 | 6.4 |
| Average temperature | 13.2°C | 13.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,043 |
| Area km² | 21.9 | 45.6 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Angoulême vs Saintes: your questions
Which is the larger city, Angoulême or Saintes?
By population, Angoulême: 43,454 inhabitants versus 26,773 for Saintes (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Angoulême is the 179th largest city in France, Saintes the 341st. By area, Saintes is the larger (45.6 km²).
How far is Angoulême from Saintes?
Angoulême and Saintes are 62 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Angoulême or Saintes?
To buy an apartment, Saintes is more expensive: €1,992 per m² (median price), versus €1,614 in Angoulême (+23%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Angoulême or Saintes?
In Saintes, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,560 a year, versus €22,490 in Angoulême (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Angoulême and Saintes in the same department?
No: Angoulême is in Charente (16), and Saintes in Charente-Maritime (17), both in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures