2026 comparison
Blois vs Orléans: 2026 comparison
Orléans has more inhabitants than Blois: 118,788 versus 48,742, or 2.4 times as many. Blois covers a larger area (37.5 km² versus 27.5 km²), but Orléans is more densely populated: 4,323 inhabitants per km² versus 1,301.
The median apartment price is higher in Orléans: €2,577 per m² versus €1,808. The median standard of living is higher in Orléans (€23,630 a year versus €21,640).
The two cities are 56 km apart as the crow flies.
Blois
City in Loir-et-Cher
FLoir-et-Cher41Centre-Val de Loire
- Population
- 48,742 inhab.
- 140th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 37.5 km²
- Density
- 1,301 per km²
Orléans
City in Loiret
- Population
- 118,788 inhab.
- 36th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 27.5 km²
- Density
- 4,323 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
BloisOrléans
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Orléans2.4 times as high | 48,742 | 118,788 | More populous: Orléans2.4 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Blois+2.8 pts | +2.9% | +0.1% | Stronger growth: Blois+2.8 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Blois+2.0 pt | +3.7% | +1.7% | Stronger growth: Blois+2.0 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Orléans3.3 times as high | 1,301 | 4,323 | Denser: Orléans3.3 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Blois+0.9 pt | 18.2% | 17.4% | More young people: Blois+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Blois+3.4 pts | 20.2% | 16.8% | More seniors: Blois+3.4 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Blois+0.04 | 1.99 | 1.95 | Larger households: Blois+0.04 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Orléans+43% | 1,808 | 2,577 | More expensive: Orléans+43% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Orléans+34% | 1,971 | 2,634 | More expensive: Orléans+34% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Orléans+23% | 11.6 | 14.3 | More expensive: Orléans+23% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Orléans+22% | 9.4 | 11.5 | More expensive: Orléans+22% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Blois+0.8 pt | 37.5% | 36.6% | More homeowners: Blois+0.8 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Blois+9.5 pts | 32.4% | 22.8% | More houses: Blois+9.5 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Blois+11 pts | 38.4% | 27.4% | More social housing: Blois+11 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Blois+0.3 pt | 4.4% | 4.0% | More second homes: Blois+0.3 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Blois+1.3 pt | 11.6% | 10.3% | More vacant homes: Blois+1.3 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Blois+3.0 pts | 57.70% | 54.70% | Higher rate: Blois+3.0 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 | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Orléans+9% | 21,640 | 23,630 | Higher: Orléans+9% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Blois+4.7 pts | 28.0% | 23.3% | Higher: Blois+4.7 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Orléans+17% | €24,995 | €29,200 | Higher: Orléans+17% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Orléans+6.5 pts | 40% | 47% | More taxpaying households: Orléans+6.5 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Orléans+3.4 pts | 70.4% | 73.8% | Higher: Orléans+3.4 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Blois+3.1 pts | 17.6% | 14.6% | Higher: Blois+3.1 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Marc Gricourt | Serge Grouard | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Blois+5.3 pts | 97% | 92% | Better covered: Blois+5.3 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Blois+5% | 66.7325 in total | 63.3752 in total | More shops per capita: Blois+5% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois+18% | 21.1103 in total | 17.9213 in total | More per capita: Blois+18% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois+17% | 41.6203 in total | 35.5422 in total | More per capita: Blois+17% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois+90% | 25.9126 in total | 13.6162 in total | More per capita: Blois+90% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois+50% | 3.316 in total | 2.226 in total | More per capita: Blois+50% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois2.3 times as high | 4.924 in total | 2.125 in total | More per capita: Blois2.3 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 | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Blois+10% | 3.3 | 3.0 | Better access: Blois+10% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois+16% | 8.240 in total | 7.184 in total | More per capita: Blois+16% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Orléans+24% | 8.642 in total | 10.7127 in total | More per capita: Orléans+24% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Orléans+27% | 6.431 in total | 8.196 in total | More per capita: Orléans+27% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Blois+7% | 2.311 in total | 2.125 in total | More per capita: Blois+7% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Orléans+3 | 5 | 8 | More facilities: Orléans+3 |
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 | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Orléans+29 | 40 | 69 | More schools: Orléans+29 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Orléans+5 | 13 | 18 | More middle schools: Orléans+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Orléans+5 | 12 | 17 | More high schools: Orléans+5 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Orléans+16 | 12 | 28 | More facilities: Orléans+16 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Blois+70% | 5.4 | 3.2 | Higher rate: Blois+70% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blois+12% | 12.5 | 11.1 | Higher rate: Blois+12% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blois+3% | 5.5 | 5.3 | Higher rate: Blois+3% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blois5.7 times as high | 3.9 | 0.7 | Higher rate: Blois5.7 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Blois+63% | 11.7 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Blois+63% |
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 | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Blois+0.1 °C | 11.8°C | 11.7°C | Warmer: Blois+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Orléans+0.6% | 1,813 | 1,823 | Sunnier: Orléans+0.6% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Orléans+8% | 676 | 729 | Wetter: Orléans+8% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Orléans+6 days/year | 110 | 117 | More rainy days: Orléans+6 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Blois+4 days/year | 59 | 55 | More frost days: Blois+4 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Blois+2 days/year | 18 | 17 | More hot days: Blois+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 | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Orléans+2 | 17 | 19 | More declarations: Orléans+2 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Blois+36% | 37.5 | 27.5 | Larger: Blois+36% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Orléans+31 m | 81 m | 112 m | Higher: Orléans+31 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| Department | Loir-et-Cher (41) | Loiret (45) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération de Blois «Agglopolys» | Orléans Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Blois | Orléans | |
| Functional area | Blois | Orléans |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Blois vs Orléans at a glance
| Criterion | Blois | Orléans |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 48,742 | 118,788 |
| Change over 10 years | +3.7% | +1.7% |
| Density per km² | 1,301 | 4,323 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,808 | 2,577 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,971 | 2,634 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.6 | 14.3 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 57.70% | 54.70% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,640 | 23,630 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 17.6% | 14.6% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 92% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 5.4 | 3.2 |
| Average temperature | 11.8°C | 11.7°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,813 | 1,823 |
| Area km² | 37.5 | 27.5 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Blois vs Orléans: your questions
Which is the larger city, Blois or Orléans?
By population, Orléans: 118,788 inhabitants versus 48,742 for Blois (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Orléans is the 36th largest city in France, Blois the 140th. By area, Blois is the larger (37.5 km²).
How far is Blois from Orléans?
Blois and Orléans are 56 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Blois or Orléans?
To buy an apartment, Orléans is more expensive: €2,577 per m² (median price), versus €1,808 in Blois (+43%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Blois or Orléans?
In Orléans, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,630 a year, versus €21,640 in Blois (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Blois or Orléans?
Orléans: 1,823 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,813 in Blois (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