2026 comparison
Beauvais vs Pontoise: 2026 comparison
Beauvais has more inhabitants than Pontoise: 56,934 versus 32,475, or 75% more. Beauvais covers a larger area (33.3 km² versus 7.2 km²), but Pontoise is more densely populated: 4,542 inhabitants per km² versus 1,709.
The median apartment price is higher in Pontoise: €3,297 per m² versus €1,754. The median standard of living is higher in Pontoise (€24,740 a year versus €21,400).
The two cities are 44 km apart as the crow flies.
Beauvais
City in Oise
- Population
- 56,934 inhab.
- 110th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 33.3 km²
- Density
- 1,709 per km²
Pontoise
City in Val-d'Oise
- Population
- 32,475 inhab.
- 259th in France · 7th in its department
- Area
- 7.2 km²
- Density
- 4,542 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BeauvaisPontoise
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Beauvais+75% | 56,934 | 32,475 | More populous: Beauvais+75% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Pontoise+3.6 pts | −1.9% | +1.7% | Stronger growth: Pontoise+3.6 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Pontoise+6.6 pts | +0.5% | +7.2% | Stronger growth: Pontoise+6.6 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Pontoise2.7 times as high | 1,709 | 4,542 | Denser: Pontoise2.7 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Pontoise+2.0 pt | 18.3% | 20.2% | More young people: Pontoise+2.0 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Beauvais+5.6 pts | 18.3% | 12.7% | More seniors: Beauvais+5.6 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Pontoise+0.20 | 2.05 | 2.25 | Larger households: Pontoise+0.20 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Pontoise+88% | 1,754 | 3,297 | More expensive: Pontoise+88% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Pontoise+66% | 2,211 | 3,666 | More expensive: Pontoise+66% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Pontoise+38% | 12.8 | 17.8 | More expensive: Pontoise+38% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Pontoise+37% | 12.2 | 16.7 | More expensive: Pontoise+37% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Pontoise+0.3 pt | 35.9% | 36.1% | More homeowners: Pontoise+0.3 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Beauvais+12 pts | 32.7% | 20.3% | More houses: Beauvais+12 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Beauvais+5.5 pts | 46.1% | 40.5% | More social housing: Beauvais+5.5 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Pontoise+0.6 pt | 1.6% | 2.2% | More second homes: Pontoise+0.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Beauvais+0.6 pt | 9.6% | 8.9% | More vacant homes: Beauvais+0.6 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Beauvais+8.1 pts | 58.53% | 50.46% | Higher rate: Beauvais+8.1 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 | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Pontoise+16% | 21,400 | 24,740 | Higher: Pontoise+16% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Beauvais+5.7 pts | 27.3% | 21.6% | Higher: Beauvais+5.7 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Pontoise+23% | €23,615 | €28,974 | Higher: Pontoise+23% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Pontoise+6.2 pts | 39% | 45% | More taxpaying households: Pontoise+6.2 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Pontoise+5.9 pts | 68.4% | 74.4% | Higher: Pontoise+5.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Beauvais+7.3 pts | 19.0% | 11.7% | Higher: Beauvais+7.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Franck Pia | Stéphanie Von Euw | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | Les Républicains | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Beauvais+3.5 pts | 99% | 96% | Better covered: Beauvais+3.5 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Beauvais+75% | 80.3457 in total | 45.9149 in total | More shops per capita: Beauvais+75% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Pontoise+9% | 19.8113 in total | 21.670 in total | More per capita: Pontoise+9% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Beauvais+2% | 42.5242 in total | 41.6135 in total | More per capita: Beauvais+2% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Pontoise+14% | 24.6140 in total | 28.091 in total | More per capita: Pontoise+14% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Pontoise+5% | 2.615 in total | 2.89 in total | More per capita: Pontoise+5% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Beauvais8.6 times as high | 2.615 in total | 0.31 in total | More per capita: Beauvais8.6 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Beauvais3.0 times as high | 4.9 | 1.7 | Better access: Beauvais3.0 times as high |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Beauvais2.0 times as high | 11.867 in total | 5.919 in total | More per capita: Beauvais2.0 times as high |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Beauvais2.3 times as high | 20.6117 in total | 8.929 in total | More per capita: Beauvais2.3 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Beauvais+0.9% | 8.146 in total | 8.026 in total | More per capita: Beauvais+0.9% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Beauvais+14% | 2.816 in total | 2.58 in total | More per capita: Beauvais+14% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Beauvais+5 | 6 | 1 | More facilities: Beauvais+5 |
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 | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Beauvais+22 | 43 | 21 | More schools: Beauvais+22 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Beauvais+3 | 10 | 7 | More middle schools: Beauvais+3 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Beauvais+4 | 10 | 6 | More high schools: Beauvais+4 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Beauvais+3 | 13 | 10 | More facilities: Beauvais+3 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Pontoise+47% | 4.4 | 6.4 | Higher rate: Pontoise+47% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Beauvais+62% | 12.4 | 7.7 | Higher rate: Beauvais+62% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Beauvais2.7 times as high | 7.0 | 2.6 | Higher rate: Beauvais2.7 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Tie | 1.9 | 1.9 | Tie |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Beauvais+66% | 10.2 | 6.1 | Higher rate: Beauvais+66% |
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 | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Pontoise+1.5 °C | 11.0°C | 12.5°C | Warmer: Pontoise+1.5 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Beauvais+3% | 1,682 | 1,634 | Sunnier: Beauvais+3% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Pontoise+2% | 656 | 667 | Wetter: Pontoise+2% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmTie | 115 | 115 | Tie |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Beauvais+18 days/year | 53 | 35 | More frost days: Beauvais+18 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Pontoise+9 days/year | 9 | 18 | More hot days: Pontoise+9 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 | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Beauvais+3 | 16 | 13 | More declarations: Beauvais+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Pontoise+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Pontoise+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Beauvais4.7 times as high | 33.3 | 7.15 | Larger: Beauvais4.7 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Beauvais+18 m | 67 m | 48 m | Higher: Beauvais+18 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| Department | Oise (60) | Val-d'Oise (95) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Beauvaisis | Communauté d'agglomération de Cergy-Pontoise | |
| Urban unit | Beauvais | Paris | |
| Functional area | Beauvais | Paris |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Beauvais vs Pontoise at a glance
| Criterion | Beauvais | Pontoise |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 56,934 | 32,475 |
| Change over 10 years | +0.5% | +7.2% |
| Density per km² | 1,709 | 4,542 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,754 | 3,297 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,211 | 3,666 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.8 | 17.8 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 58.53% | 50.46% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,400 | 24,740 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.0% | 11.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 99% | 96% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.9 | 1.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.4 | 6.4 |
| Average temperature | 11.0°C | 12.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,682 | 1,634 |
| Area km² | 33.3 | 7.15 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Beauvais vs Pontoise: your questions
Which is the larger city, Beauvais or Pontoise?
By population, Beauvais: 56,934 inhabitants versus 32,475 for Pontoise (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Beauvais is the 110th largest city in France, Pontoise the 259th. By area, Beauvais is also the larger (33.3 km²).
How far is Beauvais from Pontoise?
Beauvais and Pontoise are 44 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Beauvais or Pontoise?
To buy an apartment, Pontoise is more expensive: €3,297 per m² (median price), versus €1,754 in Beauvais (+88%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Beauvais or Pontoise?
In Pontoise, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,740 a year, versus €21,400 in Beauvais (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Beauvais or Pontoise?
Beauvais: 1,682 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,634 in Pontoise (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