2026 comparison
Caen vs Saint-Paul (974): 2026 comparison
Caen has more inhabitants than Saint-Paul: 111,546 versus 109,405, or 2.0% more. Saint-Paul covers a larger area (241 km² versus 25.7 km²), but Caen is more densely populated: 4,340 inhabitants per km² versus 453.
The median apartment price is higher in Saint-Paul: €4,809 per m² versus €2,848. The median standard of living is higher in Caen (€23,650 a year versus €21,220).
The two cities are 9,548 km apart as the crow flies.
Caen
City in Calvados
- Population
- 111,546 inhab.
- 38th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 25.7 km²
- Density
- 4,340 per km²
Saint-Paul
City in Réunion
- Population
- 109,405 inhab.
- 39th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 241 km²
- Density
- 453 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
CaenSaint-Paul
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Caen+2% | 111,546 | 109,405 | More populous: Caen+2% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Paul+0.8 pt | +3.7% | +4.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Paul+0.8 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Paul+1.6 pt | +2.0% | +3.6% | Stronger growth: Saint-Paul+1.6 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Caen9.6 times as high | 4,340 | 453 | Denser: Caen9.6 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Paul+7.9 pts | 11.7% | 19.6% | More young people: Saint-Paul+7.9 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Caen+4.3 pts | 18.9% | 14.7% | More seniors: Caen+4.3 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Paul+0.85 | 1.66 | 2.51 | Larger households: Saint-Paul+0.85 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Paul+69% | 2,848 | 4,809 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+69% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Paul+14% | 3,414 | 3,891 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+14% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Paul+36% | 13.8 | 18.9 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+36% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Paul+23% | 12.7 | 15.6 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+23% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Paul+32 pts | 29.4% | 61.0% | More homeowners: Saint-Paul+32 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Paul+57 pts | 14.7% | 71.8% | More houses: Saint-Paul+57 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Caen+15 pts | 32.9% | 18.3% | More social housing: Caen+15 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Paul+3.6 pts | 3.7% | 7.3% | More second homes: Saint-Paul+3.6 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Paul+0.6 pt | 8.9% | 9.4% | More vacant homes: Saint-Paul+0.6 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Caen+9.4 pts | 52.64% | 43.28% | Higher rate: Caen+9.4 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 | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Caen+11% | 23,650 | 21,220 | Higher: Caen+11% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Paul+6.2 pts | 24.2% | 30.4% | Higher: Saint-Paul+6.2 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Caen+6% | €27,457 | €25,928 | Higher: Caen+6% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Caen+16 pts | 44% | 28% | More taxpaying households: Caen+16 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Paul+2.8 pts | 67.3% | 70.2% | Higher: Saint-Paul+2.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Paul+8.9 pts | 15.0% | 23.9% | Higher: Saint-Paul+8.9 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Aristide Olivier | Emmanuel Séraphin | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Caen+1.8 pt | 97% | 95% | Better covered: Caen+1.8 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Caen+8% | 74.8834 in total | 69.3758 in total | More shops per capita: Caen+8% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+6% | 23.7264 in total | 25.0274 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+6% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+21% | 44.5496 in total | 53.7588 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+21% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+34% | 18.4205 in total | 24.6269 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+34% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen2.3 times as high | 2.528 in total | 1.112 in total | More per capita: Caen2.3 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+22% | 2.831 in total | 3.437 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+22% |
| 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 | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Paul+22% | 5.5 | 6.8 | Better access: Saint-Paul+22% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen+18% | 15.1168 in total | 12.8140 in total | More per capita: Caen+18% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen2.4 times as high | 39.4439 in total | 16.6182 in total | More per capita: Caen2.4 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+10% | 8.898 in total | 9.7106 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+10% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Caen+8% | 3.033 in total | 2.730 in total | More per capita: Caen+8% |
| 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 | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Paul+31 | 38 | 69 | More schools: Saint-Paul+31 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Caen+1 | 16 | 15 | More middle schools: Caen+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Caen+13 | 22 | 9 | More high schools: Caen+13 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Caen+42 | 43 | 1 | More facilities: Caen+42 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Caen2.2 times as high | 3.7 | 1.6 | Higher rate: Caen2.2 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen2.2 times as high | 14.8 | 6.7 | Higher rate: Caen2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen+37% | 6.0 | 4.4 | Higher rate: Caen+37% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Paul+31% | 1.4 | 1.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+31% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Caen+69% | 10.9 | 6.5 | Higher rate: Caen+69% |
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 | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Paul+12.9 °C | 11.5°C | 24.4°C | Warmer: Saint-Paul+12.9 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Paul+47% | 1,746 | 2,567 | Sunnier: Saint-Paul+47% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Caen+24% | 740 | 598 | Wetter: Caen+24% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Caen+79 days/year | 126 | 48 | More rainy days: Caen+79 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Caen+29 days/year | 29 | 0 | More frost days: Caen+29 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Paul+145 days/year | 4 | 149 | More hot days: Saint-Paul+145 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 | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Paul+6 | 18 | 24 | More declarations: Saint-Paul+6 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saint-Paul+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Saint-Paul+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Paul9.4 times as high | 25.7 | 241 | Larger: Saint-Paul9.4 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Caen+5 m | 10 m | 5 m | Higher: Caen+5 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | |
| Department | Calvados (14) | Réunion (974) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté urbaine Caen la Mer | Communauté d'agglomération Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) | |
| Urban unit | Caen | Saint-Paul | |
| Functional area | Caen | Saint-Paul |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Caen vs Saint-Paul (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Caen | Saint-Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 111,546 | 109,405 |
| Change over 10 years | +2.0% | +3.6% |
| Density per km² | 4,340 | 453 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,848 | 4,809 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,414 | 3,891 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.8 | 18.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 52.64% | 43.28% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,650 | 21,220 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 15.0% | 23.9% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.5 | 6.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 3.7 | 1.6 |
| Average temperature | 11.5°C | 24.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,746 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 25.7 | 241 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Caen vs Saint-Paul (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Caen or Saint-Paul?
By population, Caen: 111,546 inhabitants versus 109,405 for Saint-Paul (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Caen is the 38th largest city in France, Saint-Paul the 39th. By area, Saint-Paul is the larger (241 km²).
How far is Caen from Saint-Paul?
Caen and Saint-Paul are 9,548 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Caen or Saint-Paul?
To buy an apartment, Saint-Paul is more expensive: €4,809 per m² (median price), versus €2,848 in Caen (+69%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Caen or Saint-Paul?
In Caen, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,650 a year, versus €21,220 in Saint-Paul (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Caen or Saint-Paul?
Saint-Paul: 2,567 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,746 in Caen (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