Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Argenteuil vs Colombes: 2026 comparison

Argenteuil has more inhabitants than Colombes: 106,546 versus 91,663, or 16% more. Argenteuil covers a larger area (17.2 km² versus 7.8 km²), but Colombes is more densely populated: 11,737 inhabitants per km² versus 6,187.

The median apartment price is higher in Colombes: €5,308 per m² versus €3,333. The median standard of living is higher in Colombes (€28,370 a year versus €21,300).

The two cities are 3.1 km apart as the crow flies, in the same urban unit (Paris).

ArgenteuilColombes
ArgenteuilColombes3.1 km as the crow flies

Argenteuil

City in Val-d'Oise

Val-d'Oise95Île-de-France

Population
106,546 inhab.
40th in France · 1st in its department
Area
17.2 km²
Density
6,187 per km²
Full profile of Argenteuil

© Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0

Colombes

City in Hauts-de-Seine

Hauts-de-Seine92Île-de-France

Population
91,663 inhab.
51st in France · 4th in its department
Area
7.8 km²
Density
11,737 per km²
Full profile of Colombes

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

ArgenteuilColombes

Population: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Argenteuil+16%106,54691,663More populous: Argenteuil+16%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Colombes+9.5 pts−3.7%+5.8%Stronger growth: Colombes+9.5 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Colombes+8.3 pts−0.6%+7.7%Stronger growth: Colombes+8.3 pts
Density per km²Denser: Colombes+90%6,18711,737Denser: Colombes+90%
Under 15More young people: Argenteuil+0.1 pt20.7%20.6%More young people: Argenteuil+0.1 pt
65 and overMore seniors: Argenteuil+0.8 pt13.6%12.8%More seniors: Argenteuil+0.8 pt
People per householdLarger households: Argenteuil+0.012.392.38Larger households: Argenteuil+0.01

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

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Colombes+59%3,3335,308More expensive: Colombes+59%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Colombes+82%4,0587,379More expensive: Colombes+82%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colombes+22%19.423.5More expensive: Colombes+22%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colombes+22%18.222.3More expensive: Colombes+22%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Colombes+2.2 pts43.1%45.2%More homeowners: Colombes+2.2 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Argenteuil+6.2 pts28.9%22.7%More houses: Argenteuil+6.2 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Argenteuil+1.3 pt35.2%33.9%More social housing: Argenteuil+1.3 pt
Second homesMore second homes: Colombes+0.8 pt0.9%1.6%More second homes: Colombes+0.8 pt
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Colombes+0.2 pt6.1%6.2%More vacant homes: Colombes+0.2 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Argenteuil+11 pts38.85%28.18%Higher rate: Argenteuil+11 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: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Colombes+33%21,30028,370Higher: Colombes+33%
Poverty rateHigher: Argenteuil+11 pts29.8%18.6%Higher: Argenteuil+11 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Colombes+61%€25,075€40,344Higher: Colombes+61%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Colombes+15 pts38%53%More taxpaying households: Colombes+15 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Colombes+4.6 pts73.2%77.8%Higher: Colombes+4.6 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Argenteuil+2.9 pts14.5%11.7%Higher: Argenteuil+2.9 pts

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

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
MayorGeorges MothronJoakim Giacomoni
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)miscellaneous rightLes Républicains
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Argenteuil+2.0 pts100%97%Better covered: Argenteuil+2.0 pts

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

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Argenteuil+26%42.0448 in total33.3305 in totalMore shops per capita: Argenteuil+26%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+29%19.2205 in total14.9137 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+29%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+19%31.0330 in total26.0238 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+19%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+7%10.1108 in total9.587 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+7%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colombes+16%1.011 in total1.211 in totalMore per capita: Colombes+16%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+43%0.55 in total0.33 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+43%
Passenger train stationsTie22Tie

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

Health

Health care

Health: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Colombes+48%1.72.5Better access: Colombes+48%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+37%5.559 in total4.037 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+37%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+31%5.255 in total3.936 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+31%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colombes3.3 times as high1.415 in total4.743 in totalMore per capita: Colombes3.3 times as high
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Argenteuil+29%2.527 in total2.018 in totalMore per capita: Argenteuil+29%
HospitalsTie33Tie

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: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Argenteuil+206040More schools: Argenteuil+20
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Argenteuil+6159More middle schools: Argenteuil+6
High schoolsMore high schools: Argenteuil+6115More high schools: Argenteuil+6
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Argenteuil+352More facilities: Argenteuil+3

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

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Colombes+8%5.76.2Higher rate: Colombes+8%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Argenteuil+13%10.69.4Higher rate: Argenteuil+13%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Argenteuil+53%4.22.8Higher rate: Argenteuil+53%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Argenteuil+41%3.32.4Higher rate: Argenteuil+41%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Argenteuil+87%10.55.6Higher rate: Argenteuil+87%

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)

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Argenteuil+21309More declarations: Argenteuil+21
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Argenteuil+231More plans: Argenteuil+2
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Argenteuil and Colombes compared
CriterionArgenteuilColombesDifference
Area km²Larger: Argenteuil2.2 times as high17.27.81Larger: Argenteuil2.2 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Colombes+4 m36 m39 mHigher: Colombes+4 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentVal-d'Oise (95)Hauts-de-Seine (92)
IntercommunalitySameMétropole du Grand ParisMétropole du Grand ParisSame
Urban unitSameParisParisSame
Functional areaSameParisParisSame

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

Summary

Argenteuil vs Colombes at a glance

Summary table: Argenteuil and Colombes
CriterionArgenteuilColombes
Population inhab.106,54691,663
Change over 10 years−0.6%+7.7%
Density per km²6,18711,737
Median apartment price €/m²3,3335,308
Median house price €/m²4,0587,379
Apartment rent €/m²19.423.5
Property tax (combined rate)38.85%28.18%
Median standard of living €/year21,30028,370
Unemployment rate (census)14.5%11.7%
Premises with fiber100%97%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year1.72.5
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes5.76.2
Average temperature12.5°C12.5°C
Sunshine h/year1,6341,717
Area km²17.27.81

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Argenteuil vs Colombes: your questions

Which is the larger city, Argenteuil or Colombes?

By population, Argenteuil: 106,546 inhabitants versus 91,663 for Colombes (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Argenteuil is the 40th largest city in France, Colombes the 51st. By area, Argenteuil is also the larger (17.2 km²).

How far is Argenteuil from Colombes?

Argenteuil and Colombes are 3.1 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Argenteuil or Colombes?

To buy an apartment, Colombes is more expensive: €5,308 per m² (median price), versus €3,333 in Argenteuil (+59%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Argenteuil or Colombes?

In Colombes, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,370 a year, versus €21,300 in Argenteuil (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Are Argenteuil and Colombes in the same department?

No: Argenteuil is in Val-d'Oise (95), and Colombes in Hauts-de-Seine (92), both in the Île-de-France region.

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

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