2026 comparison
Boulogne-sur-Mer vs Lens: 2026 comparison
Boulogne-sur-Mer has more inhabitants than Lens: 40,924 versus 33,122, or 24% more. Lens covers a larger area (11.7 km² versus 8.4 km²), but Boulogne-sur-Mer is more densely populated: 4,860 inhabitants per km² versus 2,831.
The median apartment price is higher in Lens: €1,678 per m² versus €1,613. The median standard of living is higher in Boulogne-sur-Mer (€19,800 a year versus €18,660).
The two cities are 92 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
City in Pas-de-Calais
FPas-de-Calais62Hauts-de-France
- Population
- 40,924 inhab.
- 198th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 8.4 km²
- Density
- 4,860 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
Boulogne-sur-MerLens
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Boulogne-sur-Mer+24% | 40,924 | 33,122 | More populous: Boulogne-sur-Mer+24% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Lens+4.5 pts | −0.3% | +4.2% | Stronger growth: Lens+4.5 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Lens+8.7 pts | −4.7% | +4.0% | Stronger growth: Lens+8.7 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Boulogne-sur-Mer+72% | 4,860 | 2,831 | Denser: Boulogne-sur-Mer+72% |
| Under 15More young people: Lens+0.9 pt | 16.6% | 17.5% | More young people: Lens+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Lens+0.3 pt | 20.2% | 20.6% | More seniors: Lens+0.3 pt |
| 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 | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Lens+4% | 1,613 | 1,678 | More expensive: Lens+4% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+12% | 1,610 | 1,433 | More expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+12% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lens+4% | 11.5 | 11.9 | More expensive: Lens+4% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4% | 9.5 | 9.2 | More expensive: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.0 pts | 30.0% | 27.0% | More homeowners: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.0 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Lens+33 pts | 26.4% | 59.0% | More houses: Lens+33 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Lens+23 pts | 38.1% | 61.1% | More social housing: Lens+23 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.9 pts | 4.0% | 1.1% | More second homes: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2.9 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Lens+2.1 pts | 8.5% | 10.6% | More vacant homes: Lens+2.1 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Lens+7.0 pts | 57.59% | 64.57% | Higher rate: Lens+7.0 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 | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+6% | 19,800 | 18,660 | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+6% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Lens+4.9 pts | 30.5% | 35.4% | Higher: Lens+4.9 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8% | €20,197 | €18,717 | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.7 pts | 34% | 29% | More taxpaying households: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.7 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.9 pts | 70.5% | 66.5% | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+3.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Lens+1.5 pt | 21.6% | 23.0% | Higher: Lens+1.5 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Frédéric Cuvillier | Sylvain Robert | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | Socialist Party | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.5 pts | 100% | 95% | Better covered: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4.5 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.3% | 62.1254 in total | 61.9205 in total | More shops per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.3% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11% | 23.797 in total | 21.471 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+11% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lens+20% | 38.9159 in total | 46.8155 in total | More per capita: Lens+20% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lens+79% | 14.258 in total | 25.484 in total | More per capita: Lens+79% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer2.1 times as high | 3.213 in total | 1.55 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer2.1 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16% | 2.410 in total | 2.17 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16% |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Lens+22% | 4.7 | 5.7 | Better access: Lens+22% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+41% | 9.840 in total | 6.923 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+41% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lens4.2 times as high | 8.836 in total | 36.5121 in total | More per capita: Lens4.2 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lens+57% | 5.422 in total | 8.528 in total | More per capita: Lens+57% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+32% | 4.418 in total | 3.311 in total | More per capita: Boulogne-sur-Mer+32% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 | 7 | 5 | More facilities: Boulogne-sur-Mer+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 | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4 | 24 | 20 | More schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+4 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 | 8 | 6 | More middle schools: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Lens+3 | 4 | 7 | More high schools: Lens+3 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Lens+2 | 5 | 7 | More facilities: Lens+2 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Lens+0.3% | 8.0 | 8.1 | Higher rate: Lens+0.3% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lens+7% | 10.0 | 10.8 | Higher rate: Lens+7% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lens+0.4% | 8.9 | 9.0 | Higher rate: Lens+0.4% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lens+55% | 1.1 | 1.6 | Higher rate: Lens+55% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8% | 17.1 | 15.8 | Higher rate: Boulogne-sur-Mer+8% |
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 | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.2 °C | 11.2°C | 11.0°C | Warmer: Boulogne-sur-Mer+0.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Boulogne-sur-Mer+5% | 1,710 | 1,627 | Sunnier: Boulogne-sur-Mer+5% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13% | 825 | 729 | Wetter: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 days/year | 127 | 126 | More rainy days: Boulogne-sur-Mer+1 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Lens+29 days/year | 19 | 48 | More frost days: Lens+29 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Lens+6 days/year | 2 | 8 | More hot days: Lens+6 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 | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16 | 25 | 9 | More declarations: Boulogne-sur-Mer+16 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 | 2 | 0 | More plans: Boulogne-sur-Mer+2 |
| Radon potential | Low | Low, with aggravating factors |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Lens+39% | 8.42 | 11.7 | Larger: Lens+39% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13 m | 51 m | 37 m | Higher: Boulogne-sur-Mer+13 m |
| Coastal commune | Yes (sea) | No | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Pas-de-Calais (62) | Pas-de-Calais (62) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Boulonnais | Communauté d'agglomération de Lens - Liévin | |
| Urban unit | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Douai-Lens | |
| Functional area | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens - Liévin |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Boulogne-sur-Mer vs Lens at a glance
| Criterion | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Lens |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 40,924 | 33,122 |
| Change over 10 years | −4.7% | +4.0% |
| Density per km² | 4,860 | 2,831 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,613 | 1,678 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,610 | 1,433 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.5 | 11.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 57.59% | 64.57% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 19,800 | 18,660 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 21.6% | 23.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 100% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.7 | 5.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 8.0 | 8.1 |
| Average temperature | 11.2°C | 11.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,710 | 1,627 |
| Area km² | 8.42 | 11.7 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Boulogne-sur-Mer vs Lens: your questions
Which is the larger city, Boulogne-sur-Mer or Lens?
By population, Boulogne-sur-Mer: 40,924 inhabitants versus 33,122 for Lens (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Boulogne-sur-Mer is the 198th largest city in France, Lens the 254th. By area, Lens is the larger (11.7 km²).
How far is Boulogne-sur-Mer from Lens?
Boulogne-sur-Mer and Lens are 92 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 Boulogne-sur-Mer or Lens?
To buy an apartment, Lens is more expensive: €1,678 per m² (median price), versus €1,613 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (+4%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Boulogne-sur-Mer or Lens?
In Boulogne-sur-Mer, half of the residents have a standard of living above €19,800 a year, versus €18,660 in Lens (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Boulogne-sur-Mer or Lens?
Boulogne-sur-Mer: 1,710 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,627 in Lens (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