Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Avignon vs Colombes: 2026 comparison

Avignon has more inhabitants than Colombes: 93,567 versus 91,663, or 2.1% more. Avignon covers a larger area (64.9 km² versus 7.8 km²), but Colombes is more densely populated: 11,737 inhabitants per km² versus 1,441.

The median apartment price is higher in Colombes: €5,308 per m² versus €2,287. The median standard of living is higher in Colombes (€28,370 a year versus €19,500).

The two cities are 588 km apart as the crow flies.

AvignonColombes
AvignonColombes588 km as the crow flies

© Jean-Marc Rosier, CC BY-SA 3.0

Avignon

City in Vaucluse

Vaucluse84Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Population
93,567 inhab.
49th in France · 1st in its department
Area
64.9 km²
Density
1,441 per km²
Full profile of Avignon

© 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

AvignonColombes

Population: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Avignon+2%93,56791,663More populous: Avignon+2%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Colombes+5.3 pts+0.5%+5.8%Stronger growth: Colombes+5.3 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Colombes+5.6 pts+2.1%+7.7%Stronger growth: Colombes+5.6 pts
Density per km²Denser: Colombes8.1 times as high1,44111,737Denser: Colombes8.1 times as high
Under 15More young people: Colombes+2.0 pt18.6%20.6%More young people: Colombes+2.0 pt
65 and overMore seniors: Avignon+6.8 pts19.6%12.8%More seniors: Avignon+6.8 pts
People per householdLarger households: Colombes+0.352.032.38Larger households: Colombes+0.35

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

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Colombes2.3 times as high2,2875,308More expensive: Colombes2.3 times as high
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Colombes2.9 times as high2,5567,379More expensive: Colombes2.9 times as high
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colombes+92%12.323.5More expensive: Colombes+92%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colombes+93%11.522.3More expensive: Colombes+93%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Colombes+9.2 pts36.1%45.2%More homeowners: Colombes+9.2 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Avignon+3.7 pts26.4%22.7%More houses: Avignon+3.7 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Colombes+1.4 pt32.5%33.9%More social housing: Colombes+1.4 pt
Second homesMore second homes: Avignon+4.2 pts5.9%1.6%More second homes: Avignon+4.2 pts
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Avignon+8.0 pts14.3%6.2%More vacant homes: Avignon+8.0 pts
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Avignon+16 pts44.51%28.18%Higher rate: Avignon+16 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: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Colombes+45%19,50028,370Higher: Colombes+45%
Poverty rateHigher: Avignon+16 pts34.9%18.6%Higher: Avignon+16 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Colombes+83%€22,029€40,344Higher: Colombes+83%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Colombes+19 pts34%53%More taxpaying households: Colombes+19 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Colombes+9.3 pts68.5%77.8%Higher: Colombes+9.3 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Avignon+8.3 pts20.0%11.7%Higher: Avignon+8.3 pts

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

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
MayorOlivier GalziJoakim Giacomoni
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)miscellaneous rightLes Républicains
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Colombes+14 pts83%97%Better covered: Colombes+14 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: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Avignon3.0 times as high101.0945 in total33.3305 in totalMore shops per capita: Avignon3.0 times as high
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon2.1 times as high31.0290 in total14.9137 in totalMore per capita: Avignon2.1 times as high
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon2.6 times as high66.3620 in total26.0238 in totalMore per capita: Avignon2.6 times as high
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon+93%18.3171 in total9.587 in totalMore per capita: Avignon+93%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon3.1 times as high3.735 in total1.211 in totalMore per capita: Avignon3.1 times as high
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon15 times as high5.047 in total0.33 in totalMore per capita: Avignon15 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Avignon+132More stations: Avignon+1

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

Health

Health care

Health: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Avignon+73%4.32.5Better access: Avignon+73%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon2.2 times as high9.084 in total4.037 in totalMore per capita: Avignon2.2 times as high
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon7.0 times as high27.4256 in total3.936 in totalMore per capita: Avignon7.0 times as high
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon+89%8.983 in total4.743 in totalMore per capita: Avignon+89%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Avignon+90%3.735 in total2.018 in totalMore per capita: Avignon+90%
HospitalsMore facilities: Avignon+11143More facilities: Avignon+11

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: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Avignon+216140More schools: Avignon+21
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Avignon+6159More middle schools: Avignon+6
High schoolsMore high schools: Avignon+10155More high schools: Avignon+10
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Avignon+20222More facilities: Avignon+20

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

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Avignon+27%7.86.2Higher rate: Avignon+27%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Avignon2.0 times as high19.29.4Higher rate: Avignon2.0 times as high
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Avignon2.2 times as high6.12.8Higher rate: Avignon2.2 times as high
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Avignon+18%2.82.4Higher rate: Avignon+18%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Avignon2.2 times as high12.65.6Higher rate: Avignon2.2 times as high

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

Climate: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Avignon+2.1 °C14.6°C12.5°CWarmer: Avignon+2.1 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Avignon+65%2,8351,717Sunnier: Avignon+65%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Avignon+5%673639Wetter: Avignon+5%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Colombes+50 days/year63113More rainy days: Colombes+50 days/year
Frost days days/yearTie3636Tie
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Avignon+33 days/year5320More hot days: Avignon+33 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Avignon+15249More declarations: Avignon+15
Natural hazard prevention plansTie11Tie
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Avignon and Colombes compared
CriterionAvignonColombesDifference
Area km²Larger: Avignon8.3 times as high64.97.81Larger: Avignon8.3 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Colombes+17 m23 m39 mHigher: Colombes+17 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentVaucluse (84)Hauts-de-Seine (92)
IntercommunalityCommunauté d'agglomération du Grand Avignon (COGA)Métropole du Grand Paris
Urban unitAvignonParis
Functional areaAvignonParis

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

Summary

Avignon vs Colombes at a glance

Summary table: Avignon and Colombes
CriterionAvignonColombes
Population inhab.93,56791,663
Change over 10 years+2.1%+7.7%
Density per km²1,44111,737
Median apartment price €/m²2,2875,308
Median house price €/m²2,5567,379
Apartment rent €/m²12.323.5
Property tax (combined rate)44.51%28.18%
Median standard of living €/year19,50028,370
Unemployment rate (census)20.0%11.7%
Premises with fiber83%97%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year4.32.5
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes7.86.2
Average temperature14.6°C12.5°C
Sunshine h/year2,8351,717
Area km²64.97.81

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Avignon vs Colombes: your questions

Which is the larger city, Avignon or Colombes?

By population, Avignon: 93,567 inhabitants versus 91,663 for Colombes (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Avignon is the 49th largest city in France, Colombes the 51st. By area, Avignon is also the larger (64.9 km²).

How far is Avignon from Colombes?

Avignon and Colombes are 588 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

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

To buy an apartment, Colombes is more expensive: €5,308 per m² (median price), versus €2,287 in Avignon (+132%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

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

In Colombes, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,370 a year, versus €19,500 in Avignon (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Avignon or Colombes?

Avignon: 2,835 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,717 in Colombes (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

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