2026 comparison
Charleville-Mézières vs Reims: 2026 comparison
Reims has more inhabitants than Charleville-Mézières: 180,733 versus 46,473, or 3.9 times as many. Reims is both larger (46.9 km² versus 31.4 km²) and more densely populated (3,854 inhabitants per km² versus 1,478).
The median apartment price is higher in Reims: €2,753 per m² versus €1,260. The median standard of living is higher in Reims (€22,410 a year versus €20,390).
The two cities are 76 km apart as the crow flies.
Charleville-Mézières
City in Ardennes
- Population
- 46,473 inhab.
- 157th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 31.4 km²
- Density
- 1,478 per km²
Reims
City in Marne
- Population
- 180,733 inhab.
- 13th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 46.9 km²
- Density
- 3,854 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Charleville-MézièresReims
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Reims3.9 times as high | 46,473 | 180,733 | More populous: Reims3.9 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Charleville-Mézières+0.7 pt | −1.8% | −2.5% | Smaller decline: Charleville-Mézières+0.7 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Reims+4.3 pts | −7.0% | −2.7% | Smaller decline: Reims+4.3 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Reims2.6 times as high | 1,478 | 3,854 | Denser: Reims2.6 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Charleville-Mézières+0.4 pt | 16.1% | 15.7% | More young people: Charleville-Mézières+0.4 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Charleville-Mézières+6.1 pts | 23.5% | 17.4% | More seniors: Charleville-Mézières+6.1 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Charleville-Mézières+0.07 | 1.93 | 1.86 | Larger households: Charleville-Mézières+0.07 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Reims2.2 times as high | 1,260 | 2,753 | More expensive: Reims2.2 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Reims+64% | 1,644 | 2,692 | More expensive: Reims+64% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Reims+37% | 9.6 | 13.1 | More expensive: Reims+37% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Reims+33% | 8.8 | 11.8 | More expensive: Reims+33% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Charleville-Mézières+7.1 pts | 35.1% | 28.0% | More homeowners: Charleville-Mézières+7.1 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Charleville-Mézières+14 pts | 32.8% | 19.1% | More houses: Charleville-Mézières+14 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Charleville-Mézières+0.2 pt | 47.6% | 47.4% | More social housing: Charleville-Mézières+0.2 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Reims+1.4 pt | 2.4% | 3.8% | More second homes: Reims+1.4 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Charleville-Mézières+2.7 pts | 12.6% | 10.0% | More vacant homes: Charleville-Mézières+2.7 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+9.1 pts | 55.47% | 46.33% | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+9.1 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 | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Reims+10% | 20,390 | 22,410 | Higher: Reims+10% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Charleville-Mézières+5.9 pts | 31.6% | 25.7% | Higher: Charleville-Mézières+5.9 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Reims+21% | €22,491 | €27,322 | Higher: Reims+21% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Reims+6.8 pts | 36% | 42% | More taxpaying households: Reims+6.8 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Reims+1.1 pt | 69.3% | 70.4% | Higher: Reims+1.1 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Charleville-Mézières+5.6 pts | 22.0% | 16.5% | Higher: Charleville-Mézières+5.6 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Boris Ravignon | Arnaud Robinet | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous right | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Reims+0.9 pt | 97% | 98% | Better covered: Reims+0.9 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Charleville-Mézières+35% | 73.6342 in total | 54.3982 in total | More shops per capita: Charleville-Mézières+35% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+25% | 24.1112 in total | 19.3348 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+25% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+29% | 42.2196 in total | 32.7591 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+29% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+30% | 20.294 in total | 26.3475 in total | More per capita: Reims+30% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières2.0 times as high | 3.014 in total | 1.527 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières2.0 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 2.411 in total | 2.444 in total | Tie |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Reims+1 | 2 | 3 | More stations: Reims+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Reims+6% | 4.7 | 5.0 | Better access: Reims+6% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+22% | 8.238 in total | 10.0180 in total | More per capita: Reims+22% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+15% | 21.9102 in total | 19.1346 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+15% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+4% | 7.334 in total | 7.6138 in total | More per capita: Reims+4% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+13% | 3.918 in total | 3.462 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+13% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Reims+5 | 13 | 18 | More facilities: Reims+5 |
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 | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Reims+76 | 30 | 106 | More schools: Reims+76 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Reims+11 | 11 | 22 | More middle schools: Reims+11 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Reims+16 | 8 | 24 | More high schools: Reims+16 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Reims+26 | 15 | 41 | More facilities: Reims+26 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Charleville-Mézières+60% | 6.7 | 4.2 | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+60% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Tie | 12.9 | 12.9 | Tie |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+36% | 7.9 | 5.8 | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+36% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Reims2.1 times as high | 1.7 | 3.6 | Higher rate: Reims2.1 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Reims+4% | 13.7 | 14.3 | Higher rate: Reims+4% |
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 | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Reims+1.3 °C | 9.9°C | 11.2°C | Warmer: Reims+1.3 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,576 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Charleville-Mézières+23% | 928 | 756 | Wetter: Charleville-Mézières+23% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Charleville-Mézières+12 days/year | 132 | 120 | More rainy days: Charleville-Mézières+12 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Charleville-Mézières+35 days/year | 80 | 45 | More frost days: Charleville-Mézières+35 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Reims+2 days/year | 7 | 9 | More hot days: Reims+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 | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Charleville-Mézières+3 | 20 | 17 | More declarations: Charleville-Mézières+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Reims+49% | 31.4 | 46.9 | Larger: Reims+49% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Charleville-Mézières+61 m | 147 m | 86 m | Higher: Charleville-Mézières+61 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| Department | Ardennes (08) | Marne (51) | |
| Intercommunality | Ardenne Métropole | Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims | |
| Urban unit | Charleville-Mézières | Reims | |
| Functional area | Charleville-Mézières | Reims |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Charleville-Mézières vs Reims at a glance
| Criterion | Charleville-Mézières | Reims |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 46,473 | 180,733 |
| Change over 10 years | −7.0% | −2.7% |
| Density per km² | 1,478 | 3,854 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,260 | 2,753 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,644 | 2,692 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 9.6 | 13.1 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 55.47% | 46.33% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,390 | 22,410 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 22.0% | 16.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.7 | 5.0 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.7 | 4.2 |
| Average temperature | 9.9°C | 11.2°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,576 | — |
| Area km² | 31.4 | 46.9 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Charleville-Mézières vs Reims: your questions
Which is the larger city, Charleville-Mézières or Reims?
By population, Reims: 180,733 inhabitants versus 46,473 for Charleville-Mézières (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Reims is the 13th largest city in France, Charleville-Mézières the 157th. By area, Reims is also the larger (46.9 km²).
How far is Charleville-Mézières from Reims?
Charleville-Mézières and Reims are 76 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Charleville-Mézières or Reims?
To buy an apartment, Reims is more expensive: €2,753 per m² (median price), versus €1,260 in Charleville-Mézières (+118%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Charleville-Mézières or Reims?
In Reims, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,410 a year, versus €20,390 in Charleville-Mézières (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Charleville-Mézières and Reims in the same department?
No: Charleville-Mézières is in Ardennes (08), and Reims in Marne (51), both in the Grand Est region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures