2026 comparison
Grenoble vs Romans-sur-Isère: 2026 comparison
Grenoble has more inhabitants than Romans-sur-Isère: 158,303 versus 34,176, or 4.6 times as many. Romans-sur-Isère covers a larger area (33.1 km² versus 18.1 km²), but Grenoble is more densely populated: 8,732 inhabitants per km² versus 1,033.
The median apartment price is higher in Grenoble: €2,595 per m² versus €1,649. The median standard of living is higher in Grenoble (€24,270 a year versus €23,200).
The two cities are 54 km apart as the crow flies.
Grenoble
City in Isère
- Population
- 158,303 inhab.
- 19th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 18.1 km²
- Density
- 8,732 per km²
Romans-sur-Isère
City in Drôme
- Population
- 34,176 inhab.
- 245th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 33.1 km²
- Density
- 1,033 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
GrenobleRomans-sur-Isère
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Grenoble4.6 times as high | 158,303 | 34,176 | More populous: Grenoble4.6 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Romans-sur-Isère+1.9 pt | −1.0% | +0.9% | Stronger growth: Romans-sur-Isère+1.9 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Romans-sur-Isère+2.0 pts | −2.5% | −0.5% | Smaller decline: Romans-sur-Isère+2.0 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Grenoble8.5 times as high | 8,732 | 1,033 | Denser: Grenoble8.5 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Romans-sur-Isère+1.5 pt | 14.4% | 15.9% | More young people: Romans-sur-Isère+1.5 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Romans-sur-Isère+9.5 pts | 15.3% | 24.7% | More seniors: Romans-sur-Isère+9.5 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Romans-sur-Isère+0.14 | 1.82 | 1.96 | Larger households: Romans-sur-Isère+0.14 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Grenoble+57% | 2,595 | 1,649 | More expensive: Grenoble+57% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Grenoble+52% | 3,497 | 2,299 | More expensive: Grenoble+52% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Grenoble+26% | 13.4 | 10.6 | More expensive: Grenoble+26% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Grenoble+27% | 12.6 | 9.9 | More expensive: Grenoble+27% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Romans-sur-Isère+15 pts | 36.1% | 50.9% | More homeowners: Romans-sur-Isère+15 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Romans-sur-Isère+37 pts | 2.8% | 39.6% | More houses: Romans-sur-Isère+37 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Romans-sur-Isère+3.8 pts | 24.9% | 28.7% | More social housing: Romans-sur-Isère+3.8 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Grenoble+2.5 pts | 4.2% | 1.8% | More second homes: Grenoble+2.5 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Grenoble+2.9 pts | 13.5% | 10.7% | More vacant homes: Grenoble+2.9 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Grenoble+19 pts | 68.00% | 49.00% | Higher rate: Grenoble+19 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 | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Grenoble+5% | 24,270 | 23,200 | Higher: Grenoble+5% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Grenoble+2.3 pts | 23.6% | 21.3% | Higher: Grenoble+2.3 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Grenoble+4% | €27,758 | €26,610 | Higher: Grenoble+4% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Grenoble+7.3 pts | 48% | 41% | More taxpaying households: Grenoble+7.3 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Romans-sur-Isère+3.8 pts | 71.3% | 75.1% | Higher: Romans-sur-Isère+3.8 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Romans-sur-Isère+3.0 pts | 13.2% | 16.1% | Higher: Romans-sur-Isère+3.0 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Laurence Ruffin | Marie-Hélène Thoraval | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Romans-sur-Isère+0.9 pt | 96% | 97% | Better covered: Romans-sur-Isère+0.9 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Romans-sur-Isère+28% | 76.91,218 in total | 98.3336 in total | More shops per capita: Romans-sur-Isère+28% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+11% | 27.9442 in total | 25.286 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+11% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+67% | 64.61,023 in total | 38.6132 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+67% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Romans-sur-Isère+80% | 14.0221 in total | 25.286 in total | More per capita: Romans-sur-Isère+80% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Romans-sur-Isère+42% | 2.336 in total | 3.211 in total | More per capita: Romans-sur-Isère+42% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble2.1 times as high | 1.829 in total | 0.93 in total | More per capita: Grenoble2.1 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 | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityTie | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+47% | 9.9157 in total | 6.723 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+47% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble2.7 times as high | 31.7502 in total | 11.740 in total | More per capita: Grenoble2.7 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+45% | 8.5134 in total | 5.920 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+45% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+27% | 3.759 in total | 2.910 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+27% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Grenoble+3 | 7 | 4 | More facilities: Grenoble+3 |
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 | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Grenoble+40 | 62 | 22 | More schools: Grenoble+40 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Grenoble+10 | 18 | 8 | More middle schools: Grenoble+10 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Grenoble+12 | 18 | 6 | More high schools: Grenoble+12 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Grenoble+30 | 32 | 2 | More facilities: Grenoble+30 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Grenoble+66% | 7.0 | 4.2 | Higher rate: Grenoble+66% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble3.6 times as high | 26.8 | 7.5 | Higher rate: Grenoble3.6 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+86% | 6.1 | 3.3 | Higher rate: Grenoble+86% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+77% | 3.5 | 2.0 | Higher rate: Grenoble+77% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble2.2 times as high | 18.0 | 8.4 | Higher rate: Grenoble2.2 times as high |
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 | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Romans-sur-Isère+0.5 °C | 12.6°C | 13.1°C | Warmer: Romans-sur-Isère+0.5 °C |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Grenoble+12% | 981 | 877 | Wetter: Grenoble+12% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Grenoble+16 days/year | 108 | 92 | More rainy days: Grenoble+16 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Grenoble+18 days/year | 67 | 49 | More frost days: Grenoble+18 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Romans-sur-Isère+4 days/year | 35 | 40 | More hot days: Romans-sur-Isère+4 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 | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Romans-sur-Isère+9 | 5 | 14 | More declarations: Romans-sur-Isère+9 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Grenoble+2 | 2 | 0 | More plans: Grenoble+2 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Romans-sur-Isère+82% | 18.1 | 33.1 | Larger: Romans-sur-Isère+82% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Grenoble+56 m | 213 m | 156 m | Higher: Grenoble+56 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | |
| Department | Isère (38) | Drôme (26) | |
| Intercommunality | Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole | Communauté d'agglomération Valence Romans Agglo | |
| Urban unit | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère | |
| Functional area | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Grenoble vs Romans-sur-Isère at a glance
| Criterion | Grenoble | Romans-sur-Isère |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 158,303 | 34,176 |
| Change over 10 years | −2.5% | −0.5% |
| Density per km² | 8,732 | 1,033 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,595 | 1,649 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,497 | 2,299 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.4 | 10.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 68.00% | 49.00% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,270 | 23,200 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 13.2% | 16.1% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 7.0 | 4.2 |
| Average temperature | 12.6°C | 13.1°C |
| Area km² | 18.1 | 33.1 |
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FAQ
Grenoble vs Romans-sur-Isère: your questions
Which is the larger city, Grenoble or Romans-sur-Isère?
By population, Grenoble: 158,303 inhabitants versus 34,176 for Romans-sur-Isère (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Grenoble is the 19th largest city in France, Romans-sur-Isère the 245th. By area, Romans-sur-Isère is the larger (33.1 km²).
How far is Grenoble from Romans-sur-Isère?
Grenoble and Romans-sur-Isère are 54 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Grenoble or Romans-sur-Isère?
To buy an apartment, Grenoble is more expensive: €2,595 per m² (median price), versus €1,649 in Romans-sur-Isère (+57%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Grenoble or Romans-sur-Isère?
In Grenoble, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,270 a year, versus €23,200 in Romans-sur-Isère (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Grenoble and Romans-sur-Isère in the same department?
No: Grenoble is in Isère (38), and Romans-sur-Isère in Drôme (26), both in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures