2026 comparison
Arras vs Lens: 2026 comparison
Arras has more inhabitants than Lens: 43,765 versus 33,122, or 32% more. Lens covers a larger area (11.7 km² versus 11.6 km²), but Arras is more densely populated: 3,763 inhabitants per km² versus 2,831.
The median apartment price is higher in Arras: €2,429 per m² versus €1,678. The median standard of living is higher in Arras (€22,410 a year versus €18,660).
The two cities are 17 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
Lens
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 33,122 inhab.
- 254th in France · 4th in its department
- Area
- 11.7 km²
- Density
- 2,831 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
ArrasLens
| Criterion | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Arras+32% | 43,765 | 33,122 | More populous: Arras+32% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Lens+1.0 pt | +3.2% | +4.2% | Stronger growth: Lens+1.0 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Arras+1.0 pt | +5.0% | +4.0% | Stronger growth: Arras+1.0 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Arras+33% | 3,763 | 2,831 | Denser: Arras+33% |
| Under 15More young people: Lens+0.8 pt | 16.7% | 17.5% | More young people: Lens+0.8 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Lens+2.8 pts | 17.7% | 20.6% | More seniors: Lens+2.8 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Lens+0.14 | 1.92 | 2.06 | Larger households: Lens+0.14 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Arras+45% | 2,429 | 1,678 | More expensive: Arras+45% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Arras+35% | 1,934 | 1,433 | More expensive: Arras+35% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Arras+6% | 12.7 | 11.9 | More expensive: Arras+6% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Arras+12% | 10.3 | 9.2 | More expensive: Arras+12% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Arras+6.5 pts | 33.5% | 27.0% | More homeowners: Arras+6.5 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Lens+26 pts | 33.5% | 59.0% | More houses: Lens+26 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Lens+26 pts | 35.6% | 61.1% | More social housing: Lens+26 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Arras+0.7 pt | 1.8% | 1.1% | More second homes: Arras+0.7 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Lens+0.3 pt | 10.3% | 10.6% | More vacant homes: Lens+0.3 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Lens+10 pts | 54.27% | 64.57% | Higher rate: Lens+10 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 | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Arras+20% | 22,410 | 18,660 | Higher: Arras+20% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Lens+9.3 pts | 26.1% | 35.4% | Higher: Lens+9.3 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Arras+45% | €27,216 | €18,717 | Higher: Arras+45% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Arras+13 pts | 42% | 29% | More taxpaying households: Arras+13 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Arras+3.3 pts | 69.9% | 66.5% | Higher: Arras+3.3 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Lens+6.5 pts | 16.5% | 23.0% | Higher: Lens+6.5 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Frédéric Leturque | Sylvain Robert | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous centre | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Lens+2.4 pts | 93% | 95% | Better covered: Lens+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 | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Arras+48% | 91.9402 in total | 61.9205 in total | More shops per capita: Arras+48% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+6% | 22.699 in total | 21.471 in total | More per capita: Arras+6% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lens+3% | 45.5199 in total | 46.8155 in total | More per capita: Lens+3% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+9% | 27.6121 in total | 25.484 in total | More per capita: Arras+9% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+21% | 1.88 in total | 1.55 in total | More per capita: Arras+21% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+30% | 2.712 in total | 2.17 in total | More per capita: Arras+30% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Lens+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Lens+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Lens+36% | 4.2 | 5.7 | Better access: Lens+36% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+28% | 8.939 in total | 6.923 in total | More per capita: Arras+28% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+4% | 38.2167 in total | 36.5121 in total | More per capita: Arras+4% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+22% | 10.345 in total | 8.528 in total | More per capita: Arras+22% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Arras+10% | 3.716 in total | 3.311 in total | More per capita: Arras+10% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Arras+2 | 7 | 5 | More facilities: Arras+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 | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Arras+5 | 25 | 20 | More schools: Arras+5 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Arras+2 | 8 | 6 | More middle schools: Arras+2 |
| High schoolsTie | 7 | 7 | Tie |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Arras+10 | 17 | 7 | More facilities: Arras+10 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Lens+78% | 4.5 | 8.1 | Higher rate: Lens+78% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Arras+17% | 12.5 | 10.8 | Higher rate: Arras+17% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lens+1% | 8.8 | 9.0 | Higher rate: Lens+1% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lens+47% | 1.1 | 1.6 | Higher rate: Lens+47% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Arras+1% | 16.0 | 15.8 | Higher rate: Arras+1% |
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 | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Lens+0.2 °C | 10.8°C | 11.0°C | Warmer: Lens+0.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,627 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Lens+3% | 711 | 729 | Wetter: Lens+3% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Lens+1 days/year | 125 | 126 | More rainy days: Lens+1 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Lens+5 days/year | 43 | 48 | More frost days: Lens+5 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Lens+2 days/year | 6 | 8 | More hot days: Lens+2 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 | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Arras+7 | 16 | 9 | More declarations: Arras+7 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Arras+1 | 1 | 0 | More plans: Arras+1 |
| Radon potential | Low | Low, with aggravating factors |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Arras | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Lens+0.6% | 11.6 | 11.7 | Larger: Lens+0.6% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Arras+33 m | 70 m | 37 m | Higher: Arras+33 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| 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 de Lens - Liévin | |
| Urban unit | Arras | Douai-Lens | |
| Functional area | Arras | Lens - Liévin |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Arras vs Lens at a glance
| Criterion | Arras | Lens |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 43,765 | 33,122 |
| Change over 10 years | +5.0% | +4.0% |
| Density per km² | 3,763 | 2,831 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,429 | 1,678 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,934 | 1,433 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.7 | 11.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 54.27% | 64.57% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,410 | 18,660 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 16.5% | 23.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 93% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.2 | 5.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.5 | 8.1 |
| Average temperature | 10.8°C | 11.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,627 |
| Area km² | 11.6 | 11.7 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Arras vs Lens: your questions
Which is the larger city, Arras or Lens?
By population, Arras: 43,765 inhabitants versus 33,122 for Lens (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Arras is the 177th largest city in France, Lens the 254th. By area, Lens is the larger (11.7 km²).
How far is Arras from Lens?
Arras and Lens are 17 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 Lens?
To buy an apartment, Arras is more expensive: €2,429 per m² (median price), versus €1,678 in Lens (+45%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Arras or Lens?
In Arras, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,410 a year, versus €18,660 in Lens (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Arras and Lens 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