2026 comparison
Dunkerque vs Roubaix: 2026 comparison
Roubaix has more inhabitants than Dunkerque: 98,701 versus 87,442, or 13% more. Dunkerque covers a larger area (43.9 km² versus 13.2 km²), but Roubaix is more densely populated: 7,460 inhabitants per km² versus 1,992.
The median apartment price is higher in Dunkerque: €2,144 per m² versus €2,106. The median standard of living is higher in Dunkerque (€22,790 a year versus €16,080).
The two cities are 69 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Dunkerque
City in Nord
- Population
- 87,442 inhab.
- 54th in France · 4th in its department
- Area
- 43.9 km²
- Density
- 1,992 per km²
© Mairie de roubaix, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Roubaix
City in Nord
- Population
- 98,701 inhab.
- 44th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 13.2 km²
- Density
- 7,460 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
DunkerqueRoubaix
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Roubaix+13% | 87,442 | 98,701 | More populous: Roubaix+13% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Roubaix+0.9 pt | −0.7% | +0.2% | Stronger growth: Roubaix+0.9 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Roubaix+6.6 pts | −4.0% | +2.5% | Stronger growth: Roubaix+6.6 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Roubaix3.7 times as high | 1,992 | 7,460 | Denser: Roubaix3.7 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Roubaix+7.8 pts | 16.3% | 24.1% | More young people: Roubaix+7.8 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Dunkerque+11 pts | 22.8% | 12.2% | More seniors: Dunkerque+11 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Roubaix+0.46 | 2.01 | 2.47 | Larger households: Roubaix+0.46 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Dunkerque+2% | 2,144 | 2,106 | More expensive: Dunkerque+2% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Dunkerque+37% | 1,939 | 1,412 | More expensive: Dunkerque+37% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Dunkerque+2% | 13.5 | 13.3 | More expensive: Dunkerque+2% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Dunkerque+17% | 11.1 | 9.5 | More expensive: Dunkerque+17% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Dunkerque+12 pts | 45.5% | 33.5% | More homeowners: Dunkerque+12 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Roubaix+0.8 pt | 40.7% | 41.5% | More houses: Roubaix+0.8 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Dunkerque+3.2 pts | 3.9% | 0.7% | More second homes: Dunkerque+3.2 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Roubaix+2.6 pts | 6.9% | 9.5% | More vacant homes: Roubaix+2.6 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Roubaix+0.5 pt | 51.49% | 51.97% | Higher rate: Roubaix+0.5 pt |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Dunkerque+42% | 22,790 | 16,080 | Higher: Dunkerque+42% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Roubaix+25 pts | 22.7% | 47.4% | Higher: Roubaix+25 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Dunkerque+44% | €25,682 | €17,788 | Higher: Dunkerque+44% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Dunkerque+17 pts | 40% | 23% | More taxpaying households: Dunkerque+17 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Dunkerque+11 pts | 72.1% | 61.5% | Higher: Dunkerque+11 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Roubaix+7.3 pts | 17.9% | 25.2% | Higher: Roubaix+7.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Patrice Vergriete | David Guiraud | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous centre | La France insoumise | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Roubaix+0.2 pt | 93% | 94% | Better covered: Roubaix+0.2 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Roubaix+6% | 59.8523 in total | 63.4626 in total | More shops per capita: Roubaix+6% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+45% | 17.8156 in total | 25.8255 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+45% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+18% | 37.3326 in total | 44.1435 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+18% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dunkerque+32% | 17.5153 in total | 13.3131 in total | More per capita: Dunkerque+32% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dunkerque+65% | 2.219 in total | 1.313 in total | More per capita: Dunkerque+65% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dunkerque4.2 times as high | 1.715 in total | 0.44 in total | More per capita: Dunkerque4.2 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 | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Roubaix+46% | 3.5 | 5.2 | Better access: Roubaix+46% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+30% | 8.373 in total | 10.8107 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+30% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dunkerque+68% | 13.6119 in total | 8.180 in total | More per capita: Dunkerque+68% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dunkerque+34% | 7.263 in total | 5.453 in total | More per capita: Dunkerque+34% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Dunkerque+44% | 4.237 in total | 2.929 in total | More per capita: Dunkerque+44% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Roubaix+6 | 7 | 13 | More facilities: Roubaix+6 |
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 | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Roubaix+7 | 52 | 59 | More schools: Roubaix+7 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Roubaix+4 | 13 | 17 | More middle schools: Roubaix+4 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Roubaix+1 | 12 | 13 | More high schools: Roubaix+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Roubaix+5 | 9 | 14 | More facilities: Roubaix+5 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Roubaix+95% | 4.3 | 8.3 | Higher rate: Roubaix+95% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix+11% | 10.5 | 11.6 | Higher rate: Roubaix+11% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix+38% | 4.9 | 6.7 | Higher rate: Roubaix+38% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix2.5 times as high | 1.5 | 3.7 | Higher rate: Roubaix2.5 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix+17% | 11.8 | 13.8 | Higher rate: Roubaix+17% |
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 | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Dunkerque+0.4 °C | 11.7°C | 11.3°C | Warmer: Dunkerque+0.4 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,627 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Roubaix+7% | 691 | 740 | Wetter: Roubaix+7% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Roubaix+5 days/year | 121 | 126 | More rainy days: Roubaix+5 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Roubaix+20 days/year | 17 | 37 | More frost days: Roubaix+20 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Roubaix+5 days/year | 2 | 7 | More hot days: Roubaix+5 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 | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Dunkerque+10 | 26 | 16 | More declarations: Dunkerque+10 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Dunkerque+1 | 1 | 0 | More plans: Dunkerque+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Dunkerque3.3 times as high | 43.9 | 13.2 | Larger: Dunkerque3.3 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Roubaix+23 m | 7 m | 30 m | Higher: Roubaix+23 m |
| Coastal commune | Yes (sea) | No | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Nord (59) | Nord (59) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque | Métropole Européenne de Lille | |
| Urban unit | Dunkerque | Lille (partie française) | |
| Functional area | Dunkerque | Lille (partie française) |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Dunkerque vs Roubaix at a glance
| Criterion | Dunkerque | Roubaix |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 87,442 | 98,701 |
| Change over 10 years | −4.0% | +2.5% |
| Density per km² | 1,992 | 7,460 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,144 | 2,106 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,939 | 1,412 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.5 | 13.3 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 51.49% | 51.97% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,790 | 16,080 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 17.9% | 25.2% |
| Premises with fiber | 93% | 94% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.5 | 5.2 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.3 | 8.3 |
| Average temperature | 11.7°C | 11.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,627 |
| Area km² | 43.9 | 13.2 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Dunkerque vs Roubaix: your questions
Which is the larger city, Dunkerque or Roubaix?
By population, Roubaix: 98,701 inhabitants versus 87,442 for Dunkerque (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Roubaix is the 44th largest city in France, Dunkerque the 54th. By area, Dunkerque is the larger (43.9 km²).
How far is Dunkerque from Roubaix?
Dunkerque and Roubaix are 69 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Nord).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Dunkerque or Roubaix?
To buy an apartment, Dunkerque is more expensive: €2,144 per m² (median price), versus €2,106 in Roubaix (+2%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Dunkerque or Roubaix?
In Dunkerque, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,790 a year, versus €16,080 in Roubaix (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Dunkerque and Roubaix in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Nord (59), in the Hauts-de-France region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures