2026 comparison
Arras vs Calais: 2026 comparison
Calais has more inhabitants than Arras: 68,246 versus 43,765, or 56% more. Calais covers a larger area (33.5 km² versus 11.6 km²), but Arras is more densely populated: 3,763 inhabitants per km² versus 2,037.
The median apartment price is higher in Arras: €2,429 per m² versus €1,947. The median standard of living is higher in Arras (€22,410 a year versus €20,270).
The two cities are 97 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
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Arras
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 43,765 inhab.
- 177th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 11.6 km²
- Density
- 3,763 per km²
Calais
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 68,246 inhab.
- 77th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 33.5 km²
- Density
- 2,037 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
ArrasCalais
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Calais+56% | 43,765 | 68,246 | More populous: Calais+56% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Arras+11 pts | +3.2% | −7.3% | Stronger growth: Arras+11 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Arras+12 pts | +5.0% | −6.8% | Stronger growth: Arras+12 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Arras+85% | 3,763 | 2,037 | Denser: Arras+85% |
| Under 15More young people: Calais+0.9 pt | 16.7% | 17.6% | More young people: Calais+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Calais+1.2 pt | 17.7% | 18.9% | More seniors: Calais+1.2 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Calais+0.13 | 1.92 | 2.05 | Larger households: Calais+0.13 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Arras+25% | 2,429 | 1,947 | More expensive: Arras+25% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Arras+27% | 1,934 | 1,519 | More expensive: Arras+27% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Arras+9% | 12.7 | 11.6 | More expensive: Arras+9% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Arras+17% | 10.3 | 8.8 | More expensive: Arras+17% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Calais+11 pts | 33.5% | 44.1% | More homeowners: Calais+11 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Calais+17 pts | 33.5% | 50.2% | More houses: Calais+17 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Arras+4.6 pts | 35.6% | 31.0% | More social housing: Arras+4.6 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Calais+0.6 pt | 1.8% | 2.4% | More second homes: Calais+0.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Arras+0.5 pt | 10.3% | 9.8% | More vacant homes: Arras+0.5 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Arras+5.5 pts | 54.27% | 48.75% | Higher rate: Arras+5.5 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 | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Arras+11% | 22,410 | 20,270 | Higher: Arras+11% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Calais+2.4 pts | 26.1% | 28.5% | Higher: Calais+2.4 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Arras+26% | €27,216 | €21,561 | Higher: Arras+26% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Arras+7.2 pts | 42% | 35% | More taxpaying households: Arras+7.2 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Arras+1.0 pt | 69.9% | 68.9% | Higher: Arras+1.0 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Calais+5.8 pts | 16.5% | 22.3% | Higher: Calais+5.8 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Frédéric Leturque | Natacha Bouchart | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous centre | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Calais+7.0 pts | 93% | 100% | Better covered: Calais+7.0 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Arras+64% | 91.9402 in total | 56.1383 in total | More shops per capita: Arras+64% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+22% | 22.699 in total | 18.6127 in total | More per capita: Arras+22% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+71% | 45.5199 in total | 26.7182 in total | More per capita: Arras+71% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+67% | 27.6121 in total | 16.6113 in total | More per capita: Arras+67% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+25% | 1.88 in total | 1.510 in total | More per capita: Arras+25% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+56% | 2.712 in total | 1.812 in total | More per capita: Arras+56% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Calais+2 | 1 | 3 | More stations: Calais+2 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Arras+9% | 4.2 | 3.8 | Better access: Arras+9% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+17% | 8.939 in total | 7.652 in total | More per capita: Arras+17% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras6.1 times as high | 38.2167 in total | 6.343 in total | More per capita: Arras6.1 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras2.3 times as high | 10.345 in total | 4.531 in total | More per capita: Arras2.3 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Calais+8% | 3.716 in total | 4.027 in total | More per capita: Calais+8% |
| HospitalsTie | 7 | 7 | 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 | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Calais+11 | 25 | 36 | More schools: Calais+11 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Calais+3 | 8 | 11 | More middle schools: Calais+3 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Calais+1 | 7 | 8 | More high schools: Calais+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Arras+11 | 17 | 6 | More facilities: Arras+11 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Arras+41% | 4.5 | 3.2 | Higher rate: Arras+41% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Arras+56% | 12.5 | 8.0 | Higher rate: Arras+56% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Arras+29% | 8.8 | 6.8 | Higher rate: Arras+29% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Arras+20% | 1.1 | 0.9 | Higher rate: Arras+20% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Arras+19% | 16.0 | 13.5 | Higher rate: Arras+19% |
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 | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Calais+0.2 °C | 10.8°C | 11.0°C | Warmer: Calais+0.2 °C |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Calais+4% | 711 | 737 | Wetter: Calais+4% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Arras+5 days/year | 125 | 121 | More rainy days: Arras+5 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Arras+12 days/year | 43 | 31 | More frost days: Arras+12 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Arras+4 days/year | 6 | 2 | More hot days: Arras+4 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 | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Arras+7 | 16 | 9 | More declarations: Arras+7 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Arras | Calais | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Calais2.9 times as high | 11.6 | 33.5 | Larger: Calais2.9 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Arras+65 m | 70 m | 5 m | Higher: Arras+65 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Pas-de-Calais (62) | Pas-de-Calais (62) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté urbaine d'Arras | Communauté d'agglomération Grand Calais Terres et Mers | |
| Urban unit | Arras | Calais | |
| Functional area | Arras | Calais |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Arras vs Calais at a glance
| Criterion | Arras | Calais |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 43,765 | 68,246 |
| Change over 10 years | +5.0% | −6.8% |
| Density per km² | 3,763 | 2,037 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,429 | 1,947 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,934 | 1,519 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.7 | 11.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 54.27% | 48.75% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,410 | 20,270 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 16.5% | 22.3% |
| Premises with fiber | 93% | 100% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.2 | 3.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.5 | 3.2 |
| Average temperature | 10.8°C | 11.0°C |
| Area km² | 11.6 | 33.5 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Arras vs Calais: your questions
Which is the larger city, Arras or Calais?
By population, Calais: 68,246 inhabitants versus 43,765 for Arras (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Calais is the 77th largest city in France, Arras the 177th. By area, Calais is also the larger (33.5 km²).
How far is Arras from Calais?
Arras and Calais are 97 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Pas-de-Calais).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Arras or Calais?
To buy an apartment, Arras is more expensive: €2,429 per m² (median price), versus €1,947 in Calais (+25%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Arras or Calais?
In Arras, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,410 a year, versus €20,270 in Calais (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Arras and Calais in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Pas-de-Calais (62), in the Hauts-de-France region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures