Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Dijon vs Villeurbanne: 2026 comparison

Dijon has more inhabitants than Villeurbanne: 164,963 versus 164,747, or 0.1% more. Dijon covers a larger area (40.4 km² versus 14.5 km²), but Villeurbanne is more densely populated: 11,346 inhabitants per km² versus 4,082.

The median apartment price is higher in Villeurbanne: €3,806 per m² versus €2,714. The median standard of living is higher in Dijon (€25,140 a year versus €24,160).

The two cities are 174 km apart as the crow flies.

DijonVilleurbanne
DijonVilleurbanne174 km as the crow flies

Dijon

City in Côte-d'Or

Côte-d'Or21Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Population
164,963 inhab.
16th in France · 1st in its department
Area
40.4 km²
Density
4,082 per km²
Full profile of Dijon

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

DijonVilleurbanne

Population: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Dijon+0.1%164,963164,747More populous: Dijon+0.1%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+5.5 pts+3.2%+8.6%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+5.5 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+5.4 pts+5.8%+11.2%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+5.4 pts
Density per km²Denser: Villeurbanne2.8 times as high4,08211,346Denser: Villeurbanne2.8 times as high
Under 15More young people: Villeurbanne+3.7 pts12.7%16.4%More young people: Villeurbanne+3.7 pts
65 and overMore seniors: Dijon+4.4 pts17.9%13.6%More seniors: Dijon+4.4 pts
People per householdLarger households: Villeurbanne+0.221.731.95Larger households: Villeurbanne+0.22

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

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Villeurbanne+40%2,7143,806More expensive: Villeurbanne+40%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Villeurbanne+37%3,2834,505More expensive: Villeurbanne+37%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Villeurbanne+17%13.315.6More expensive: Villeurbanne+17%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Villeurbanne+20%13.115.7More expensive: Villeurbanne+20%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Dijon+4.3 pts38.9%34.6%More homeowners: Dijon+4.3 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Dijon+9.0 pts13.8%4.8%More houses: Dijon+9.0 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Villeurbanne+8.9 pts22.1%31.0%More social housing: Villeurbanne+8.9 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Dijon+0.6 pt4.1%3.5%More second homes: Dijon+0.6 pt
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Villeurbanne+0.8 pt7.3%8.1%More vacant homes: Villeurbanne+0.8 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Dijon+18 pts52.05%34.32%Higher rate: Dijon+18 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: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Dijon+4%25,14024,160Higher: Dijon+4%
Poverty rateHigher: Villeurbanne+3.9 pts19.2%23.1%Higher: Villeurbanne+3.9 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Dijon+12%€29,796€26,493Higher: Dijon+12%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Dijon+3.7 pts50%47%More taxpaying households: Dijon+3.7 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Villeurbanne+2.1 pts71.1%73.3%Higher: Villeurbanne+2.1 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Villeurbanne+0.2 pt12.9%13.0%Higher: Villeurbanne+0.2 pt

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

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
MayorNathalie KoendersCédric Van Styvendael
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Socialist Partyunion of the left
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Dijon+3.2 pts97%94%Better covered: Dijon+3.2 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: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Dijon+57%59.1975 in total37.6620 in totalMore shops per capita: Dijon+57%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+15%18.5306 in total16.1266 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+15%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+13%38.9641 in total34.3565 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+13%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+93%19.2317 in total10.0164 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+93%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon2.6 times as high2.134 in total0.813 in totalMore per capita: Dijon2.6 times as high
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon7.3 times as high2.744 in total0.46 in totalMore per capita: Dijon7.3 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Dijon+220More stations: Dijon+2

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

Health

Health care

Health: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Dijon+17%4.53.9Better access: Dijon+17%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+29%11.2184 in total8.6142 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+29%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+79%52.9873 in total29.6487 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+79%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+58%8.2136 in total5.286 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+58%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dijon+31%3.151 in total2.439 in totalMore per capita: Dijon+31%
HospitalsMore facilities: Dijon+18235More facilities: Dijon+18

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: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Dijon+288860More schools: Dijon+28
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Dijon+42319More middle schools: Dijon+4
High schoolsMore high schools: Dijon+41410More high schools: Dijon+4
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Dijon+265226More facilities: Dijon+26

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

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Villeurbanne+35%4.25.7Higher rate: Villeurbanne+35%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+32%14.018.5Higher rate: Villeurbanne+32%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Dijon+11%4.23.8Higher rate: Dijon+11%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne2.7 times as high1.12.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne2.7 times as high
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+43%10.414.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne+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

Climate: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Villeurbanne+1.5 °C11.5°C13.0°CWarmer: Villeurbanne+1.5 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Villeurbanne+8%1,8902,050Sunnier: Villeurbanne+8%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Villeurbanne+6%772821Wetter: Villeurbanne+6%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Dijon+16 days/year119103More rainy days: Dijon+16 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Dijon+24 days/year6642More frost days: Dijon+24 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Villeurbanne+8 days/year2331More hot days: Villeurbanne+8 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Villeurbanne+11112More declarations: Villeurbanne+1
Natural hazard prevention plansTie11Tie
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Dijon and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionDijonVilleurbanneDifference
Area km²Larger: Dijon2.8 times as high40.414.5Larger: Dijon2.8 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Dijon+75 m245 m169 mHigher: Dijon+75 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentCôte-d'Or (21)Rhône (69)
IntercommunalityDijon MétropoleMétropole de Lyon
Urban unitDijonLyon
Functional areaDijonLyon

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

Summary

Dijon vs Villeurbanne at a glance

Summary table: Dijon and Villeurbanne
CriterionDijonVilleurbanne
Population inhab.164,963164,747
Change over 10 years+5.8%+11.2%
Density per km²4,08211,346
Median apartment price €/m²2,7143,806
Median house price €/m²3,2834,505
Apartment rent €/m²13.315.6
Property tax (combined rate)52.05%34.32%
Median standard of living €/year25,14024,160
Unemployment rate (census)12.9%13.0%
Premises with fiber97%94%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year4.53.9
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes4.25.7
Average temperature11.5°C13.0°C
Sunshine h/year1,8902,050
Area km²40.414.5

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Dijon vs Villeurbanne: your questions

Which is the larger city, Dijon or Villeurbanne?

By population, Dijon: 164,963 inhabitants versus 164,747 for Villeurbanne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Dijon is the 16th largest city in France, Villeurbanne the 17th. By area, Dijon is also the larger (40.4 km²).

How far is Dijon from Villeurbanne?

Dijon and Villeurbanne are 174 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Dijon or Villeurbanne?

To buy an apartment, Villeurbanne is more expensive: €3,806 per m² (median price), versus €2,714 in Dijon (+40%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Dijon or Villeurbanne?

In Dijon, half of the residents have a standard of living above €25,140 a year, versus €24,160 in Villeurbanne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Dijon or Villeurbanne?

Villeurbanne: 2,050 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

This website uses cookies to give you the best possible experience. Read the privacy policy