2026 comparison
Caen vs Hérouville-Saint-Clair: 2026 comparison
Caen has more inhabitants than Hérouville-Saint-Clair: 111,546 versus 23,672, or 4.7 times as many. Caen is both larger (25.7 km² versus 10.6 km²) and more densely populated (4,340 inhabitants per km² versus 2,225).
The median apartment price is higher in Caen: €2,848 per m² versus €1,857. The median standard of living is higher in Caen (€23,650 a year versus €20,270).
The two cities are 3.6 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Caen).
Caen
City in Calvados
- Population
- 111,546 inhab.
- 38th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 25.7 km²
- Density
- 4,340 per km²
© Pascal Radigue, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hérouville-Saint-Clair
City in Calvados
- Population
- 23,672 inhab.
- 389th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 10.6 km²
- Density
- 2,225 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
CaenHérouville-Saint-Clair
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Caen4.7 times as high | 111,546 | 23,672 | More populous: Caen4.7 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsTie | +3.7% | +3.7% | Tie |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+7.7 pts | +2.0% | +9.7% | Stronger growth: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+7.7 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Caen+95% | 4,340 | 2,225 | Denser: Caen+95% |
| Under 15More young people: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+6.6 pts | 11.7% | 18.3% | More young people: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+6.6 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Caen+1.4 pt | 18.9% | 17.5% | More seniors: Caen+1.4 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+0.36 | 1.66 | 2.02 | Larger households: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+0.36 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Caen+53% | 2,848 | 1,857 | More expensive: Caen+53% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Caen+29% | 3,414 | 2,653 | More expensive: Caen+29% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Caen+13% | 13.8 | 12.2 | More expensive: Caen+13% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Caen+4% | 12.7 | 12.3 | More expensive: Caen+4% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Caen+0.7 pt | 29.4% | 28.7% | More homeowners: Caen+0.7 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+5.7 pts | 14.7% | 20.4% | More houses: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+5.7 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+28 pts | 32.9% | 60.6% | More social housing: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+28 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Caen+2.8 pts | 3.7% | 0.9% | More second homes: Caen+2.8 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Caen+3.7 pts | 8.9% | 5.2% | More vacant homes: Caen+3.7 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+0.5 pt | 52.64% | 53.16% | Higher rate: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+0.5 pt |
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 | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Caen+17% | 23,650 | 20,270 | Higher: Caen+17% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+5.8 pts | 24.2% | 30.0% | Higher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+5.8 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Caen+28% | €27,457 | €21,524 | Higher: Caen+28% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Caen+8.9 pts | 44% | 35% | More taxpaying households: Caen+8.9 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+2.9 pts | 67.3% | 70.2% | Higher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+2.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+4.8 pts | 15.0% | 19.8% | Higher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+4.8 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Aristide Olivier | Rodolphe Thomas | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the centre | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+2.4 pts | 97% | 99% | Better covered: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+2.4 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Caen+44% | 74.8834 in total | 52.0123 in total | More shops per capita: Caen+44% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen+93% | 23.7264 in total | 12.329 in total | More per capita: Caen+93% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen+99% | 44.5496 in total | 22.453 in total | More per capita: Caen+99% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+68% | 18.4205 in total | 30.873 in total | More per capita: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+68% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 2.528 in total | 2.56 in total | Tie |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen+32% | 2.831 in total | 2.15 in total | More per capita: Caen+32% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Caen+1 | 1 | 0 | More stations: Caen+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+25% | 5.5 | 6.9 | Better access: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+25% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+37% | 15.1168 in total | 20.749 in total | More per capita: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+37% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen2.0 times as high | 39.4439 in total | 19.446 in total | More per capita: Caen2.0 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen+8.8 | 8.898 in total | 0.00 in total | More per capita: Caen+8.8 |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+29% | 3.033 in total | 3.89 in total | More per capita: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+29% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Caen+13 | 19 | 6 | More facilities: Caen+13 |
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 | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Caen+28 | 38 | 10 | More schools: Caen+28 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Caen+12 | 16 | 4 | More middle schools: Caen+12 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Caen+20 | 22 | 2 | More high schools: Caen+20 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Caen+36 | 43 | 7 | More facilities: Caen+36 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Caen+13% | 3.7 | 3.3 | Higher rate: Caen+13% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen2.2 times as high | 14.8 | 6.6 | Higher rate: Caen2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen+98% | 6.0 | 3.0 | Higher rate: Caen+98% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen+35% | 1.4 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Caen+35% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen+99% | 10.9 | 5.5 | Higher rate: Caen+99% |
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)
Natural hazards
Natural disasters and prevention
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Caen+9 | 18 | 9 | More declarations: Caen+9 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Caen2.4 times as high | 25.7 | 10.6 | Larger: Caen2.4 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+37 m | 10 m | 48 m | Higher: Hérouville-Saint-Clair+37 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Calvados (14) | Calvados (14) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Communauté urbaine Caen la Mer | Communauté urbaine Caen la Mer | Same |
| Urban unitSame | Caen | Caen | Same |
| Functional areaSame | Caen | Caen | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Caen vs Hérouville-Saint-Clair at a glance
| Criterion | Caen | Hérouville-Saint-Clair |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 111,546 | 23,672 |
| Change over 10 years | +2.0% | +9.7% |
| Density per km² | 4,340 | 2,225 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,848 | 1,857 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,414 | 2,653 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.8 | 12.2 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 52.64% | 53.16% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,650 | 20,270 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 15.0% | 19.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 99% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.5 | 6.9 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| Average temperature | 11.5°C | 11.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,746 | 1,746 |
| Area km² | 25.7 | 10.6 |
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FAQ
Caen vs Hérouville-Saint-Clair: your questions
Which is the larger city, Caen or Hérouville-Saint-Clair?
By population, Caen: 111,546 inhabitants versus 23,672 for Hérouville-Saint-Clair (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Caen is the 38th largest city in France, Hérouville-Saint-Clair the 389th. By area, Caen is also the larger (25.7 km²).
How far is Caen from Hérouville-Saint-Clair?
Caen and Hérouville-Saint-Clair are 3.6 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Calvados).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Caen or Hérouville-Saint-Clair?
To buy an apartment, Caen is more expensive: €2,848 per m² (median price), versus €1,857 in Hérouville-Saint-Clair (+53%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Caen or Hérouville-Saint-Clair?
In Caen, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,650 a year, versus €20,270 in Hérouville-Saint-Clair (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Caen and Hérouville-Saint-Clair in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Calvados (14), in the Normandy region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures