2026 comparison
Cholet vs Saumur: 2026 comparison
Cholet has more inhabitants than Saumur: 56,363 versus 27,096, or 2.1 times as many. Cholet is both larger (87.5 km² versus 66.3 km²) and more densely populated (644 inhabitants per km² versus 409).
The median apartment price is higher in Cholet: €2,001 per m² versus €1,632. The median standard of living is higher in Cholet (€25,020 a year versus €23,990).
The two cities are 65 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Cholet
City in Maine-et-Loire
FMaine-et-Loire49Pays de la Loire
- Population
- 56,363 inhab.
- 112th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 87.5 km²
- Density
- 644 per km²
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© Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Saumur
City in Maine-et-Loire
FMaine-et-Loire49Pays de la Loire
- Population
- 27,096 inhab.
- 333rd in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 66.3 km²
- Density
- 409 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
CholetSaumur
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Cholet2.1 times as high | 56,363 | 27,096 | More populous: Cholet2.1 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Cholet+1.7 pt | +0.4% | −1.3% | Stronger growth: Cholet+1.7 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Cholet+5.2 pts | +1.0% | −4.3% | Stronger growth: Cholet+5.2 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Cholet+58% | 644 | 409 | Denser: Cholet+58% |
| Under 15More young people: Cholet+1.7 pt | 16.8% | 15.2% | More young people: Cholet+1.7 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saumur+5.2 pts | 23.0% | 28.2% | More seniors: Saumur+5.2 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Cholet+0.14 | 2.03 | 1.89 | Larger households: Cholet+0.14 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Cholet+23% | 2,001 | 1,632 | More expensive: Cholet+23% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Cholet+11% | 2,141 | 1,931 | More expensive: Cholet+11% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Cholet+12% | 11.7 | 10.5 | More expensive: Cholet+12% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Cholet+2% | 9.8 | 9.6 | More expensive: Cholet+2% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Cholet+7.4 pts | 55.9% | 48.5% | More homeowners: Cholet+7.4 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Cholet+8.2 pts | 58.7% | 50.4% | More houses: Cholet+8.2 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saumur+6.3 pts | 22.7% | 28.9% | More social housing: Saumur+6.3 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saumur+5.0 pts | 2.1% | 7.0% | More second homes: Saumur+5.0 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saumur+4.7 pts | 5.9% | 10.6% | More vacant homes: Saumur+4.7 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Cholet+2.3 pts | 51.04% | 48.78% | Higher rate: Cholet+2.3 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 | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Cholet+4% | 25,020 | 23,990 | Higher: Cholet+4% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saumur+3.0 pts | 15.8% | 18.8% | Higher: Saumur+3.0 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Cholet+13% | €30,684 | €27,247 | Higher: Cholet+13% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Cholet+4.4 pts | 45% | 41% | More taxpaying households: Cholet+4.4 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Cholet+4.4 pts | 76.6% | 72.2% | Higher: Cholet+4.4 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saumur+1.6 pt | 12.2% | 13.8% | Higher: Saumur+1.6 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Isabelle Leroy | Jackie Goulet Claisse | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous centre | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Cholet+2.0 pts | 98% | 96% | Better covered: Cholet+2.0 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saumur+13% | 83.0468 in total | 93.7254 in total | More shops per capita: Saumur+13% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+26% | 20.2114 in total | 25.569 in total | More per capita: Saumur+26% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+52% | 28.9163 in total | 43.9119 in total | More per capita: Saumur+52% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+26% | 26.3148 in total | 33.290 in total | More per capita: Saumur+26% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cholet+12% | 2.514 in total | 2.26 in total | More per capita: Cholet+12% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur2.3 times as high | 2.816 in total | 6.618 in total | More per capita: Saumur2.3 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 | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Cholet+14% | 3.8 | 3.3 | Better access: Cholet+14% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+47% | 6.034 in total | 8.924 in total | More per capita: Saumur+47% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+4% | 19.5110 in total | 20.355 in total | More per capita: Saumur+4% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+51% | 7.844 in total | 11.832 in total | More per capita: Saumur+51% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saumur+69% | 2.816 in total | 4.813 in total | More per capita: Saumur+69% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Cholet+4 | 9 | 5 | More facilities: Cholet+4 |
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 | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Cholet+15 | 34 | 19 | More schools: Cholet+15 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Cholet+1 | 11 | 10 | More middle schools: Cholet+1 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Cholet+4 | 13 | 9 | More high schools: Cholet+4 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Cholet+6 | 9 | 3 | More facilities: Cholet+6 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saumur+6% | 4.4 | 4.6 | Higher rate: Saumur+6% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saumur2.2 times as high | 6.3 | 13.8 | Higher rate: Saumur2.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saumur2.1 times as high | 3.3 | 6.9 | Higher rate: Saumur2.1 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saumur2.7 times as high | 1.3 | 3.5 | Higher rate: Saumur2.7 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saumur+78% | 9.1 | 16.2 | Higher rate: Saumur+78% |
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 | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saumur+0.2 °C | 12.3°C | 12.5°C | Warmer: Saumur+0.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,003 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Cholet+26% | 773 | 613 | Wetter: Cholet+26% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Cholet+10 days/year | 115 | 105 | More rainy days: Cholet+10 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saumur+8 days/year | 34 | 42 | More frost days: Saumur+8 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saumur+6 days/year | 11 | 18 | More hot days: Saumur+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 | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saumur+20 | 16 | 36 | More declarations: Saumur+20 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saumur+2 | 1 | 3 | More plans: Saumur+2 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Cholet+32% | 87.5 | 66.3 | Larger: Cholet+32% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Cholet+50 m | 80 m | 30 m | Higher: Cholet+50 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Urban belt | |
| DepartmentSame | Maine-et-Loire (49) | Maine-et-Loire (49) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Cholet Agglomération | Communauté d'agglomération Saumur Val de Loire | |
| Urban unit | Cholet | Saumur | |
| Functional area | Cholet | Saumur |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Cholet vs Saumur at a glance
| Criterion | Cholet | Saumur |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 56,363 | 27,096 |
| Change over 10 years | +1.0% | −4.3% |
| Density per km² | 644 | 409 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,001 | 1,632 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,141 | 1,931 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.7 | 10.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 51.04% | 48.78% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 25,020 | 23,990 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 12.2% | 13.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 96% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Average temperature | 12.3°C | 12.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,003 |
| Area km² | 87.5 | 66.3 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Cholet vs Saumur: your questions
Which is the larger city, Cholet or Saumur?
By population, Cholet: 56,363 inhabitants versus 27,096 for Saumur (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Cholet is the 112th largest city in France, Saumur the 333rd. By area, Cholet is also the larger (87.5 km²).
How far is Cholet from Saumur?
Cholet and Saumur are 65 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Maine-et-Loire).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Cholet or Saumur?
To buy an apartment, Cholet is more expensive: €2,001 per m² (median price), versus €1,632 in Saumur (+23%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Cholet or Saumur?
In Cholet, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,020 a year, versus €23,990 in Saumur (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Cholet and Saumur in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Maine-et-Loire (49), in the Pays de la Loire region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures