2026 comparison
Armentières vs Boulogne-sur-Mer: 2026 comparison
Boulogne-sur-Mer has more inhabitants than Armentières: 40,924 versus 27,382, or 49% more. Boulogne-sur-Mer is both larger (8.4 km² versus 6.3 km²) and more densely populated (4,860 inhabitants per km² versus 4,360).
The median apartment price is higher in Armentières: €2,186 per m² versus €1,613. The median standard of living is higher in Armentières (€21,040 a year versus €19,800).
The two cities are 90 km apart as the crow flies.
© Millevylle.steven, CC BY-SA 3.0
Armentières
City in Nord
- Population
- 27,382 inhab.
- 330th in France · 13th in its department
- Area
- 6.3 km²
- Density
- 4,360 per km²
Boulogne-sur-Mer
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 40,924 inhab.
- 198th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 8.4 km²
- Density
- 4,860 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
ArmentièresBoulogne-sur-Mer
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Boulogne-sur-Mer+49% | 27,382 | 40,924 | More populous: Boulogne-sur-Mer+49% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Armentières+9.3 pts | +9.0% | −0.3% | Stronger growth: Armentières+9.3 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Armentières+8.6 pts | +3.9% | −4.7% | Stronger growth: Armentières+8.6 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11% | 4,360 | 4,860 | Denser: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11% |
| Under 15More young people: Armentières+3.2 pts | 19.8% | 16.6% | More young people: Armentières+3.2 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.3 pts | 15.9% | 20.2% | More seniors: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.3 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Armentières+0.23 | 2.15 | 1.92 | Larger households: Armentières+0.23 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Armentières+36% | 2,186 | 1,613 | More expensive: Armentières+36% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Armentières+17% | 1,889 | 1,610 | More expensive: Armentières+17% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Armentières+12% | 12.8 | 11.5 | More expensive: Armentières+12% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedTie | 9.5 | 9.5 | Tie |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Armentières+16 pts | 46.4% | 30.0% | More homeowners: Armentières+16 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Armentières+28 pts | 54.2% | 26.4% | More houses: Armentières+28 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | — | 38.1% | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.0 pts | 0.9% | 4.0% | More second homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.0 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.5 pt | 8.0% | 8.5% | More vacant homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.5 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1.4 pt | 56.23% | 57.59% | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1.4 pt |
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 | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Armentières+6% | 21,040 | 19,800 | Higher: Armentières+6% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.2 pts | 27.3% | 30.5% | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.2 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Armentières+10% | €22,157 | €20,197 | Higher: Armentières+10% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Armentières+1.2 pt | 35% | 34% | More taxpaying households: Armentières+1.2 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Armentières+2.8 pts | 73.2% | 70.5% | Higher: Armentières+2.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.7 pts | 16.9% | 21.6% | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.7 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Jean-Michel Monpays | Frédéric Cuvillier | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | Socialist Party | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.4 pts | 97% | 100% | Better covered: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.4 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+35% | 46.0126 in total | 62.1254 in total | More shops per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+35% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+58% | 15.041 in total | 23.797 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+58% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16% | 33.692 in total | 38.9159 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Armentières+60% | 22.662 in total | 14.258 in total | More per capita: Armentières+60% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+74% | 1.85 in total | 3.213 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+74% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer6.7 times as high | 0.41 in total | 2.410 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer6.7 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Boulogne-sur-Mer+21% | 3.9 | 4.7 | Better access: Boulogne-sur-Mer+21% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Armentières+0.9% | 9.927 in total | 9.840 in total | More per capita: Armentières+0.9% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Armentières2.6 times as high | 23.063 in total | 8.836 in total | More per capita: Armentières2.6 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Armentières+22% | 6.618 in total | 5.422 in total | More per capita: Armentières+22% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+51% | 2.98 in total | 4.418 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+51% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 | 5 | 7 | More facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 |
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 | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11 | 13 | 24 | More schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3 | 5 | 8 | More middle schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Armentières+1 | 5 | 4 | More high schools: Armentières+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4 | 1 | 5 | More facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+74% | 4.6 | 8.0 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+74% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2% | 9.9 | 10.0 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+35% | 6.6 | 8.9 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+35% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Armentières+71% | 1.8 | 1.1 | Higher rate: Armentières+71% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+22% | 14.0 | 17.1 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+22% |
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 | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Armentières+0.1 °C | 11.3°C | 11.2°C | Warmer: Armentières+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Boulogne-sur-Mer+5% | 1,627 | 1,710 | Sunnier: Boulogne-sur-Mer+5% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11% | 740 | 825 | Wetter: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 days/year | 126 | 127 | More rainy days: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Armentières+18 days/year | 37 | 19 | More frost days: Armentières+18 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Armentières+5 days/year | 7 | 2 | More hot days: Armentières+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
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16 | 9 | 25 | More declarations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Boulogne-sur-Mer+34% | 6.28 | 8.42 | Larger: Boulogne-sur-Mer+34% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+33 m | 18 m | 51 m | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+33 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| Department | Nord (59) | Pas-de-Calais (62) | |
| Intercommunality | Métropole Européenne de Lille | Communauté d'agglomération du Boulonnais | |
| Urban unit | Armentières (partie française) | Boulogne-sur-Mer | |
| Functional area | Lille (partie française) | Boulogne-sur-Mer |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Armentières vs Boulogne-sur-Mer at a glance
| Criterion | Armentières | Boulogne-sur-Mer |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 27,382 | 40,924 |
| Change over 10 years | +3.9% | −4.7% |
| Density per km² | 4,360 | 4,860 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,186 | 1,613 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,889 | 1,610 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.8 | 11.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 56.23% | 57.59% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,040 | 19,800 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 16.9% | 21.6% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 100% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.9 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.6 | 8.0 |
| Average temperature | 11.3°C | 11.2°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,627 | 1,710 |
| Area km² | 6.28 | 8.42 |
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FAQ
Armentières vs Boulogne-sur-Mer: your questions
Which is the larger city, Armentières or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
By population, Boulogne-sur-Mer: 40,924 inhabitants versus 27,382 for Armentières (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Boulogne-sur-Mer is the 198th largest city in France, Armentières the 330th. By area, Boulogne-sur-Mer is also the larger (8.4 km²).
How far is Armentières from Boulogne-sur-Mer?
Armentières and Boulogne-sur-Mer are 90 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Armentières or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
To buy an apartment, Armentières is more expensive: €2,186 per m² (median price), versus €1,613 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (+36%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Armentières or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
In Armentières, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,040 a year, versus €19,800 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Armentières or Boulogne-sur-Mer?
Boulogne-sur-Mer: 1,710 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,627 in Armentières (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