2026 comparison
Dijon vs Saint-Denis (974): 2026 comparison
Dijon has more inhabitants than Saint-Denis: 164,963 versus 157,142, or 5.0% more. Saint-Denis covers a larger area (143 km² versus 40.4 km²), but Dijon is more densely populated: 4,082 inhabitants per km² versus 1,101.
The median apartment price is higher in Dijon: €2,714 per m² versus €2,500. The median standard of living is higher in Dijon (€25,140 a year versus €20,240).
The two cities are 9,109 km apart as the crow flies.
Dijon
City in Côte-d'Or
FCôte-d'Or21Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
- Population
- 164,963 inhab.
- 16th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 40.4 km²
- Density
- 4,082 per km²
Saint-Denis
City in Réunion
- Population
- 157,142 inhab.
- 20th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 143 km²
- Density
- 1,101 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
DijonSaint-Denis
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Dijon+5% | 164,963 | 157,142 | More populous: Dijon+5% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+0.2 pt | +3.2% | +3.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+0.2 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+3.5 pts | +5.8% | +9.3% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+3.5 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Dijon3.7 times as high | 4,082 | 1,101 | Denser: Dijon3.7 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Denis+7.8 pts | 12.7% | 20.6% | More young people: Saint-Denis+7.8 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Dijon+3.4 pts | 17.9% | 14.5% | More seniors: Dijon+3.4 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Denis+0.50 | 1.73 | 2.23 | Larger households: Saint-Denis+0.50 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Dijon+9% | 2,714 | 2,500 | More expensive: Dijon+9% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Dijon+3% | 3,283 | 3,183 | More expensive: Dijon+3% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Denis+13% | 13.3 | 15.1 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+13% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Denis+14% | 13.1 | 14.9 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+14% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Dijon+7.4 pts | 38.9% | 31.5% | More homeowners: Dijon+7.4 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Denis+20 pts | 13.8% | 34.0% | More houses: Saint-Denis+20 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Denis+17 pts | 22.1% | 38.9% | More social housing: Saint-Denis+17 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Dijon+2.3 pts | 4.1% | 1.8% | More second homes: Dijon+2.3 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Denis+1.4 pt | 7.3% | 8.8% | More vacant homes: Saint-Denis+1.4 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Dijon+13 pts | 52.05% | 38.97% | Higher rate: Dijon+13 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 | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Dijon+24% | 25,140 | 20,240 | Higher: Dijon+24% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Denis+16 pts | 19.2% | 35.0% | Higher: Saint-Denis+16 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Dijon+19% | €29,796 | €24,973 | Higher: Dijon+19% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Dijon+22 pts | 50% | 29% | More taxpaying households: Dijon+22 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Dijon+1.2 pt | 71.1% | 69.9% | Higher: Dijon+1.2 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Denis+13 pts | 12.9% | 25.4% | Higher: Saint-Denis+13 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Nathalie Koenders | Ericka Bareigts | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | Socialist Party | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 97% | 97% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Denis+10% | 59.1975 in total | 65.21,025 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Denis+10% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+15% | 18.5306 in total | 21.3334 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+15% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+22% | 38.9641 in total | 47.3744 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+22% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+3% | 19.2317 in total | 18.7294 in total | More per capita: Dijon+3% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+47% | 2.134 in total | 1.422 in total | More per capita: Dijon+47% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon3.5 times as high | 2.744 in total | 0.812 in total | More per capita: Dijon3.5 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Dijon+2 | 2 | 0 | More stations: Dijon+2 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Denis+7% | 4.5 | 4.8 | Better access: Saint-Denis+7% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+12% | 11.2184 in total | 10.0157 in total | More per capita: Dijon+12% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon3.8 times as high | 52.9873 in total | 13.9219 in total | More per capita: Dijon3.8 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+21% | 8.2136 in total | 6.8107 in total | More per capita: Dijon+21% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+8% | 3.151 in total | 2.945 in total | More per capita: Dijon+8% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Dijon+13 | 23 | 10 | More facilities: Dijon+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 | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Dijon+3 | 88 | 85 | More schools: Dijon+3 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Dijon+3 | 23 | 20 | More middle schools: Dijon+3 |
| High schoolsTie | 14 | 14 | Tie |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Dijon+26 | 52 | 26 | More facilities: Dijon+26 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Dijon2.0 times as high | 4.2 | 2.1 | Higher rate: Dijon2.0 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Dijon3.0 times as high | 14.0 | 4.7 | Higher rate: Dijon3.0 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+6% | 4.2 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+6% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Dijon+4% | 1.1 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Dijon+4% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Dijon+43% | 10.4 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Dijon+43% |
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 | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Denis+13.0 °C | 11.5°C | 24.5°C | Warmer: Saint-Denis+13.0 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Denis+36% | 1,890 | 2,567 | Sunnier: Saint-Denis+36% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Denis+98% | 772 | 1,530 | Wetter: Saint-Denis+98% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Dijon+2 days/year | 119 | 117 | More rainy days: Dijon+2 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Dijon+66 days/year | 66 | 0 | More frost days: Dijon+66 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Denis+52 days/year | 23 | 75 | More hot days: Saint-Denis+52 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 | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Denis+10 | 11 | 21 | More declarations: Saint-Denis+10 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Denis3.5 times as high | 40.4 | 143 | Larger: Saint-Denis3.5 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Dijon+229 m | 245 m | 15 m | Higher: Dijon+229 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Côte-d'Or (21) | Réunion (974) | |
| Intercommunality | Dijon Métropole | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | |
| Urban unit | Dijon | Saint-Denis | |
| Functional area | Dijon | Saint-Denis |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Dijon vs Saint-Denis (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Dijon | Saint-Denis |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 164,963 | 157,142 |
| Change over 10 years | +5.8% | +9.3% |
| Density per km² | 4,082 | 1,101 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,714 | 2,500 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,283 | 3,183 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.3 | 15.1 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 52.05% | 38.97% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 25,140 | 20,240 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 12.9% | 25.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.2 | 2.1 |
| Average temperature | 11.5°C | 24.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,890 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 40.4 | 143 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Dijon vs Saint-Denis (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Dijon or Saint-Denis?
By population, Dijon: 164,963 inhabitants versus 157,142 for Saint-Denis (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Dijon is the 16th largest city in France, Saint-Denis the 20th. By area, Saint-Denis is the larger (143 km²).
How far is Dijon from Saint-Denis?
Dijon and Saint-Denis are 9,109 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Dijon or Saint-Denis?
To buy an apartment, Dijon is more expensive: €2,714 per m² (median price), versus €2,500 in Saint-Denis (+9%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Dijon or Saint-Denis?
In Dijon, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,140 a year, versus €20,240 in Saint-Denis (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Dijon or Saint-Denis?
Saint-Denis: 2,567 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,890 in Dijon (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