Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Décines-Charpieu vs Villeurbanne: 2026 comparison

Villeurbanne has more inhabitants than Décines-Charpieu: 164,747 versus 30,064, or 5.5 times as many. Décines-Charpieu covers a larger area (17.0 km² versus 14.5 km²), but Villeurbanne is more densely populated: 11,346 inhabitants per km² versus 1,767.

The median apartment price is higher in Villeurbanne: €3,806 per m² versus €3,425. The median standard of living is higher in Décines-Charpieu (€24,770 a year versus €24,160).

The two cities are 5.4 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Lyon).

Décines-CharpieuVilleurbanne
Décines-CharpieuVilleurbanne5.4 km as the crow flies

Décines-Charpieu

City in Rhône

Rhône69Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Population
30,064 inhab.
294th in France · 12th in its department
Area
17.0 km²
Density
1,767 per km²
Full profile of Décines-Charpieu

Villeurbanne

City in Rhône

Rhône69Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Population
164,747 inhab.
17th in France · 2nd in its department
Area
14.5 km²
Density
11,346 per km²
Full profile of Villeurbanne

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

Décines-CharpieuVilleurbanne

Population: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Villeurbanne5.5 times as high30,064164,747More populous: Villeurbanne5.5 times as high
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+4.2 pts+4.5%+8.6%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+4.2 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Décines-Charpieu+0.2 pt+11.4%+11.2%Stronger growth: Décines-Charpieu+0.2 pt
Density per km²Denser: Villeurbanne6.4 times as high1,76711,346Denser: Villeurbanne6.4 times as high
Under 15More young people: Décines-Charpieu+2.0 pts18.4%16.4%More young people: Décines-Charpieu+2.0 pts
65 and overMore seniors: Décines-Charpieu+5.1 pts18.7%13.6%More seniors: Décines-Charpieu+5.1 pts
People per householdLarger households: Décines-Charpieu+0.342.291.95Larger households: Décines-Charpieu+0.34

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Villeurbanne+11%3,4253,806More expensive: Villeurbanne+11%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Villeurbanne+6%4,2414,505More expensive: Villeurbanne+6%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Villeurbanne+2%15.315.6More expensive: Villeurbanne+2%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Villeurbanne+6%14.815.7More expensive: Villeurbanne+6%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Décines-Charpieu+18 pts52.7%34.6%More homeowners: Décines-Charpieu+18 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Décines-Charpieu+26 pts30.6%4.8%More houses: Décines-Charpieu+26 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Villeurbanne+6.5 pts24.6%31.0%More social housing: Villeurbanne+6.5 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Villeurbanne+2.5 pts1.0%3.5%More second homes: Villeurbanne+2.5 pts
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Villeurbanne+2.4 pts5.7%8.1%More vacant homes: Villeurbanne+2.4 pts
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+4.1 pts38.38%34.32%Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+4.1 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

Income and jobs: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Décines-Charpieu+3%24,77024,160Higher: Décines-Charpieu+3%
Poverty rateHigher: Villeurbanne+4.3 pts18.8%23.1%Higher: Villeurbanne+4.3 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Décines-Charpieu+9%€28,964€26,493Higher: Décines-Charpieu+9%
Households paying income taxTie47%47%Tie
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Décines-Charpieu+2.3 pts75.5%73.3%Higher: Décines-Charpieu+2.3 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Tie13.0%13.0%Tie

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
MayorLaurence FautraCédric Van Styvendael
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Les Républicainsunion of the left
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Décines-Charpieu+3.9 pts98%94%Better covered: Décines-Charpieu+3.9 pts

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Décines-Charpieu+21%45.6137 in total37.6620 in totalMore shops per capita: Décines-Charpieu+21%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu+28%20.662 in total16.1266 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu+28%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu+13%38.9117 in total34.3565 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu+13%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu+24%12.337 in total10.0164 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu+24%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu+69%1.34 in total0.813 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu+69%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu3.7 times as high1.34 in total0.46 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu3.7 times as high
Passenger train stationsTie00Tie

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Villeurbanne+44%2.73.9Better access: Villeurbanne+44%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Villeurbanne+18%7.322 in total8.6142 in totalMore per capita: Villeurbanne+18%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Villeurbanne+23%23.972 in total29.6487 in totalMore per capita: Villeurbanne+23%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu+47%7.723 in total5.286 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu+47%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Décines-Charpieu+12%2.78 in total2.439 in totalMore per capita: Décines-Charpieu+12%
HospitalsMore facilities: Villeurbanne+505More facilities: Villeurbanne+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

Education: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Villeurbanne+461460More schools: Villeurbanne+46
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Villeurbanne+13619More middle schools: Villeurbanne+13
High schoolsMore high schools: Villeurbanne+6410More high schools: Villeurbanne+6
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Villeurbanne+25126More facilities: Villeurbanne+25

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Décines-Charpieu+12%6.45.7Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+12%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+57%11.818.5Higher rate: Villeurbanne+57%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+19%4.53.8Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+19%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+33%3.72.8Higher rate: Décines-Charpieu+33%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+62%9.214.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne+62%

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

Natural hazards: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Décines-Charpieu+61812More declarations: Décines-Charpieu+6
Natural hazard prevention plansTie11Tie
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanneDifference
Area km²Larger: Décines-Charpieu+17%17.014.5Larger: Décines-Charpieu+17%
Town hall elevationHigher: Décines-Charpieu+19 m188 m169 mHigher: Décines-Charpieu+19 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentSameRhône (69)Rhône (69)Same
IntercommunalitySameMétropole de LyonMétropole de LyonSame
Urban unitSameLyonLyonSame
Functional areaSameLyonLyonSame

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Décines-Charpieu vs Villeurbanne at a glance

Summary table: Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne
CriterionDécines-CharpieuVilleurbanne
Population inhab.30,064164,747
Change over 10 years+11.4%+11.2%
Density per km²1,76711,346
Median apartment price €/m²3,4253,806
Median house price €/m²4,2414,505
Apartment rent €/m²15.315.6
Property tax (combined rate)38.38%34.32%
Median standard of living €/year24,77024,160
Unemployment rate (census)13.0%13.0%
Premises with fiber98%94%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year2.73.9
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes6.45.7
Average temperature13.0°C13.0°C
Sunshine h/year2,0502,050
Area km²17.014.5

More comparisons

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FAQ

Décines-Charpieu vs Villeurbanne: your questions

Which is the larger city, Décines-Charpieu or Villeurbanne?

By population, Villeurbanne: 164,747 inhabitants versus 30,064 for Décines-Charpieu (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Villeurbanne is the 17th largest city in France, Décines-Charpieu the 294th. By area, Décines-Charpieu is the larger (17.0 km²).

How far is Décines-Charpieu from Villeurbanne?

Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne are 5.4 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Rhône).

Where is real estate more expensive, in Décines-Charpieu or Villeurbanne?

To buy an apartment, Villeurbanne is more expensive: €3,806 per m² (median price), versus €3,425 in Décines-Charpieu (+11%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Décines-Charpieu or Villeurbanne?

In Décines-Charpieu, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,770 a year, versus €24,160 in Villeurbanne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Are Décines-Charpieu and Villeurbanne in the same department?

Yes: both towns are in Rhône (69), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

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