2026 comparison
Besançon vs Rouen: 2026 comparison
Besançon has more inhabitants than Rouen: 121,627 versus 119,165, or 2.1% more. Besançon covers a larger area (65.1 km² versus 21.4 km²), but Rouen is more densely populated: 5,574 inhabitants per km² versus 1,870.
The median apartment price is higher in Rouen: €2,821 per m² versus €2,177. The median standard of living is higher in Besançon (€23,240 a year versus €23,060).
The two cities are 437 km apart as the crow flies.
Besançon
City in Doubs
FDoubs25Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
- Population
- 121,627 inhab.
- 33rd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 65.1 km²
- Density
- 1,870 per km²
Rouen
City in Seine-Maritime
- Population
- 119,165 inhab.
- 35th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 21.4 km²
- Density
- 5,574 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BesançonRouen
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Besançon+2% | 121,627 | 119,165 | More populous: Besançon+2% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Rouen+4.2 pts | +1.5% | +5.7% | Stronger growth: Rouen+4.2 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Rouen+4.9 pts | +1.3% | +6.2% | Stronger growth: Rouen+4.9 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Rouen3.0 times as high | 1,870 | 5,574 | Denser: Rouen3.0 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Besançon+0.1 pt | 14.4% | 14.3% | More young people: Besançon+0.1 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Besançon+4.4 pts | 18.8% | 14.4% | More seniors: Besançon+4.4 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Besançon+0.06 | 1.78 | 1.72 | Larger households: Besançon+0.06 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Rouen+30% | 2,177 | 2,821 | More expensive: Rouen+30% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Rouen+1% | 2,756 | 2,786 | More expensive: Rouen+1% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Rouen+3% | 12.9 | 13.3 | More expensive: Rouen+3% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Rouen+12% | 11.0 | 12.3 | More expensive: Rouen+12% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Besançon+8.3 pts | 35.5% | 27.2% | More homeowners: Besançon+8.3 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Rouen+0.8 pt | 12.8% | 13.6% | More houses: Rouen+0.8 pt |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Besançon+4.0 pts | 32.6% | 28.6% | More social housing: Besançon+4.0 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Rouen+1.1 pt | 2.5% | 3.7% | More second homes: Rouen+1.1 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Rouen+0.3 pt | 9.5% | 9.8% | More vacant homes: Rouen+0.3 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Rouen+3.8 pts | 45.65% | 49.49% | Higher rate: Rouen+3.8 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 | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Besançon+0.8% | 23,240 | 23,060 | Higher: Besançon+0.8% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Rouen+2.4 pts | 24.0% | 26.4% | Higher: Rouen+2.4 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Besançon+0.8% | €27,048 | €26,823 | Higher: Besançon+0.8% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Besançon+1.2 pt | 45% | 44% | More taxpaying households: Besançon+1.2 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Rouen+0.8 pt | 69.1% | 69.8% | Higher: Rouen+0.8 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Rouen+0.5 pt | 14.5% | 15.0% | Higher: Rouen+0.5 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Ludovic Fagaut | Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 96% | 96% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Rouen+37% | 67.8825 in total | 92.61,104 in total | More shops per capita: Rouen+37% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rouen+38% | 19.5237 in total | 26.9321 in total | More per capita: Rouen+38% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rouen+79% | 35.6433 in total | 63.9761 in total | More per capita: Rouen+79% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Besançon+3% | 16.3198 in total | 15.8188 in total | More per capita: Besançon+3% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rouen+13% | 2.328 in total | 2.631 in total | More per capita: Rouen+13% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rouen+76% | 2.125 in total | 3.643 in total | More per capita: Rouen+76% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Besançon+1 | 2 | 1 | More stations: Besançon+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Rouen+6% | 5.1 | 5.4 | Better access: Rouen+6% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rouen+5% | 12.7155 in total | 13.3159 in total | More per capita: Rouen+5% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Besançon+8% | 46.9570 in total | 43.6519 in total | More per capita: Besançon+8% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rouen+23% | 6.984 in total | 8.5101 in total | More per capita: Rouen+23% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Besançon+12% | 3.340 in total | 2.935 in total | More per capita: Besançon+12% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Besançon+4 | 19 | 15 | More facilities: Besançon+4 |
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 | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Besançon+10 | 70 | 60 | More schools: Besançon+10 |
| Middle schoolsTie | 16 | 16 | Tie |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Besançon+7 | 23 | 16 | More high schools: Besançon+7 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Besançon+2 | 27 | 25 | More facilities: Besançon+2 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Rouen+62% | 2.8 | 4.6 | Higher rate: Rouen+62% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rouen2.2 times as high | 11.3 | 25.1 | Higher rate: Rouen2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rouen+54% | 5.4 | 8.4 | Higher rate: Rouen+54% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rouen+91% | 1.4 | 2.7 | Higher rate: Rouen+91% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rouen+25% | 10.3 | 12.8 | Higher rate: Rouen+25% |
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 | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Rouen+1.2 °C | 11.4°C | 12.6°C | Warmer: Rouen+1.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Besançon+20% | 1,873 | 1,554 | Sunnier: Besançon+20% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Besançon+41% | 1,157 | 818 | Wetter: Besançon+41% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Besançon+5 days/year | 136 | 131 | More rainy days: Besançon+5 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Besançon+25 days/year | 58 | 33 | More frost days: Besançon+25 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Rouen+2 days/year | 15 | 16 | More hot days: Rouen+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 | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Rouen+5 | 16 | 21 | More declarations: Rouen+5 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Rouen+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Rouen+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Besançon3.0 times as high | 65.1 | 21.4 | Larger: Besançon3.0 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Besançon+230 m | 246 m | 16 m | Higher: Besançon+230 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Doubs (25) | Seine-Maritime (76) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté urbaine Grand Besançon Métropole | Métropole Rouen Normandie | |
| Urban unit | Besançon | Rouen | |
| Functional area | Besançon | Rouen |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Besançon vs Rouen at a glance
| Criterion | Besançon | Rouen |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 121,627 | 119,165 |
| Change over 10 years | +1.3% | +6.2% |
| Density per km² | 1,870 | 5,574 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,177 | 2,821 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,756 | 2,786 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.9 | 13.3 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 45.65% | 49.49% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,240 | 23,060 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.5% | 15.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 96% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 2.8 | 4.6 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 12.6°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,873 | 1,554 |
| Area km² | 65.1 | 21.4 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Besançon vs Rouen: your questions
Which is the larger city, Besançon or Rouen?
By population, Besançon: 121,627 inhabitants versus 119,165 for Rouen (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Besançon is the 33rd largest city in France, Rouen the 35th. By area, Besançon is also the larger (65.1 km²).
How far is Besançon from Rouen?
Besançon and Rouen are 437 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Besançon or Rouen?
To buy an apartment, Rouen is more expensive: €2,821 per m² (median price), versus €2,177 in Besançon (+30%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Besançon or Rouen?
In Besançon, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,240 a year, versus €23,060 in Rouen (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Besançon or Rouen?
Besançon: 1,873 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,554 in Rouen (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