2026 comparison
Colmar vs Mulhouse: 2026 comparison
Mulhouse has more inhabitants than Colmar: 106,083 versus 68,013, or 56% more. Colmar covers a larger area (66.6 km² versus 22.2 km²), but Mulhouse is more densely populated: 4,783 inhabitants per km² versus 1,022.
The median standard of living is higher in Colmar (€23,850 a year versus €18,680).
The two cities are 40 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
© sinava-- from Berlin, CC BY 2.0
Colmar
City in Haut-Rhin
- Population
- 68,013 inhab.
- 79th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 66.6 km²
- Density
- 1,022 per km²
.jpg){kind=link}
Mulhouse
City in Haut-Rhin
- Population
- 106,083 inhab.
- 41st in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 22.2 km²
- Density
- 4,783 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
ColmarMulhouse
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Mulhouse+56% | 68,013 | 106,083 | More populous: Mulhouse+56% |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Colmar+1.1 pt | −2.5% | −3.6% | Smaller decline: Colmar+1.1 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Colmar+4.9 pts | −1.5% | −6.3% | Smaller decline: Colmar+4.9 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Mulhouse4.7 times as high | 1,022 | 4,783 | Denser: Mulhouse4.7 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Mulhouse+3.3 pts | 15.9% | 19.2% | More young people: Mulhouse+3.3 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Colmar+4.6 pts | 21.6% | 17.0% | More seniors: Colmar+4.6 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Mulhouse+0.15 | 1.98 | 2.13 | Larger households: Mulhouse+0.15 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colmar+7% | 12.7 | 11.8 | More expensive: Colmar+7% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Colmar+8% | 12.5 | 11.5 | More expensive: Colmar+8% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Colmar+3.1 pts | 36.9% | 33.8% | More homeowners: Colmar+3.1 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Colmar+4.1 pts | 17.1% | 13.0% | More houses: Colmar+4.1 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Colmar+1.0 pt | 33.4% | 32.4% | More social housing: Colmar+1.0 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Colmar+2.6 pts | 4.8% | 2.1% | More second homes: Colmar+2.6 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Mulhouse+9.1 pts | 7.0% | 16.1% | More vacant homes: Mulhouse+9.1 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Mulhouse+13 pts | 33.80% | 46.92% | Higher rate: Mulhouse+13 pts |
Sources: Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Colmar+28% | 23,850 | 18,680 | Higher: Colmar+28% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Mulhouse+15 pts | 21.3% | 36.5% | Higher: Mulhouse+15 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Colmar+25% | €30,267 | €24,145 | Higher: Colmar+25% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Colmar+14 pts | 46% | 33% | More taxpaying households: Colmar+14 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Colmar+8.0 pts | 75.4% | 67.4% | Higher: Colmar+8.0 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Mulhouse+8.3 pts | 14.5% | 22.8% | Higher: Mulhouse+8.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Eric Straumann | Frédéric Marquet | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous centre | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 95% | 95% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Colmar+27% | 89.8611 in total | 70.9752 in total | More shops per capita: Colmar+27% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+26% | 29.4200 in total | 23.3247 in total | More per capita: Colmar+26% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+5% | 49.4336 in total | 46.9497 in total | More per capita: Colmar+5% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+24% | 16.0109 in total | 12.9137 in total | More per capita: Colmar+24% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mulhouse+33% | 2.114 in total | 2.729 in total | More per capita: Mulhouse+33% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar2.7 times as high | 4.631 in total | 1.718 in total | More per capita: Colmar2.7 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Colmar+1 | 3 | 2 | More stations: Colmar+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Colmar+12% | 4.4 | 3.9 | Better access: Colmar+12% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mulhouse+33% | 9.162 in total | 12.2129 in total | More per capita: Mulhouse+33% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+1% | 26.3179 in total | 26.0276 in total | More per capita: Colmar+1% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Colmar+87% | 11.578 in total | 6.165 in total | More per capita: Colmar+87% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Mulhouse+12% | 2.920 in total | 3.335 in total | More per capita: Mulhouse+12% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Mulhouse+2 | 14 | 16 | More facilities: Mulhouse+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 | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Mulhouse+23 | 31 | 54 | More schools: Mulhouse+23 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Mulhouse+6 | 9 | 15 | More middle schools: Mulhouse+6 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Mulhouse+6 | 9 | 15 | More high schools: Mulhouse+6 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Mulhouse+19 | 9 | 28 | More facilities: Mulhouse+19 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Mulhouse+59% | 3.7 | 5.9 | Higher rate: Mulhouse+59% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Colmar+20% | 17.6 | 14.7 | Higher rate: Colmar+20% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Mulhouse+50% | 5.4 | 8.1 | Higher rate: Mulhouse+50% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Colmar+49% | 1.5 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Colmar+49% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Mulhouse+7% | 11.0 | 11.8 | Higher rate: Mulhouse+7% |
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 | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Colmar+0.2 °C | 11.3°C | 11.1°C | Warmer: Colmar+0.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Colmar+3% | 1,882 | 1,819 | Sunnier: Colmar+3% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Mulhouse+34% | 558 | 748 | Wetter: Mulhouse+34% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Mulhouse+12 days/year | 102 | 114 | More rainy days: Mulhouse+12 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Mulhouse+1 days/year | 68 | 69 | More frost days: Mulhouse+1 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Colmar+0 days/year | 20 | 19 | More hot days: Colmar+0 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 | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Mulhouse+1 | 8 | 9 | More declarations: Mulhouse+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Colmar+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Colmar+1 |
| Radon potential | Low, with aggravating factors | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Colmar3.0 times as high | 66.6 | 22.2 | Larger: Colmar3.0 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Mulhouse+47 m | 192 m | 239 m | Higher: Mulhouse+47 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Haut-Rhin (68) | Haut-Rhin (68) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Colmar Agglomération | Communauté d'agglomération Mulhouse Alsace Agglomération | |
| Urban unit | Colmar | Mulhouse | |
| Functional area | Colmar | Mulhouse |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Colmar vs Mulhouse at a glance
| Criterion | Colmar | Mulhouse |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 68,013 | 106,083 |
| Change over 10 years | −1.5% | −6.3% |
| Density per km² | 1,022 | 4,783 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 12.7 | 11.8 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 33.80% | 46.92% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,850 | 18,680 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.5% | 22.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.4 | 3.9 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 3.7 | 5.9 |
| Average temperature | 11.3°C | 11.1°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,882 | 1,819 |
| Area km² | 66.6 | 22.2 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Colmar vs Mulhouse: your questions
Which is the larger city, Colmar or Mulhouse?
By population, Mulhouse: 106,083 inhabitants versus 68,013 for Colmar (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Mulhouse is the 41st largest city in France, Colmar the 79th. By area, Colmar is the larger (66.6 km²).
How far is Colmar from Mulhouse?
Colmar and Mulhouse are 40 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Haut-Rhin).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Colmar or Mulhouse?
In Colmar, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,850 a year, versus €18,680 in Mulhouse (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Colmar or Mulhouse?
Colmar: 1,882 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,819 in Mulhouse (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Are Colmar and Mulhouse in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Haut-Rhin (68), in the Grand Est region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures