2026 comparison
Grenoble vs Saint-Martin-d'Hères: 2026 comparison
Grenoble has more inhabitants than Saint-Martin-d'Hères: 158,303 versus 37,921, or 4.2 times as many. Grenoble is both larger (18.1 km² versus 9.3 km²) and more densely populated (8,732 inhabitants per km² versus 4,095).
The median apartment price is higher in Grenoble: €2,595 per m² versus €2,286. The median standard of living is higher in Grenoble (€24,270 a year versus €23,430).
The two cities are 3.9 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Grenoble).
Grenoble
City in Isère
- Population
- 158,303 inhab.
- 19th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 18.1 km²
- Density
- 8,732 per km²
Saint-Martin-d'Hères
City in Isère
- Population
- 37,921 inhab.
- 211th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 9.3 km²
- Density
- 4,095 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
GrenobleSaint-Martin-d'Hères
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Grenoble4.2 times as high | 158,303 | 37,921 | More populous: Grenoble4.2 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Grenoble+0.9 pt | −1.0% | −1.8% | Smaller decline: Grenoble+0.9 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+1.7 pt | −2.5% | −0.9% | Smaller decline: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+1.7 pt |
| Density per km²Denser: Grenoble2.1 times as high | 8,732 | 4,095 | Denser: Grenoble2.1 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+0.7 pt | 14.4% | 15.1% | More young people: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+0.7 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Grenoble+1.9 pt | 15.3% | 13.4% | More seniors: Grenoble+1.9 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+0.19 | 1.82 | 2.01 | Larger households: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+0.19 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Grenoble+14% | 2,595 | 2,286 | More expensive: Grenoble+14% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Grenoble+3% | 3,497 | 3,397 | More expensive: Grenoble+3% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+0.6% | 13.4 | 13.5 | More expensive: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+0.6% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+15% | 12.6 | 14.4 | More expensive: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+15% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+6.1 pts | 36.1% | 42.1% | More homeowners: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+6.1 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+8.3 pts | 2.8% | 11.1% | More houses: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+8.3 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+18 pts | 24.9% | 42.8% | More social housing: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+18 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Grenoble+2.9 pts | 4.2% | 1.3% | More second homes: Grenoble+2.9 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Grenoble+7.0 pts | 13.5% | 6.5% | More vacant homes: Grenoble+7.0 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Grenoble+9.9 pts | 68.00% | 58.15% | Higher rate: Grenoble+9.9 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 | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Grenoble+4% | 24,270 | 23,430 | Higher: Grenoble+4% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Grenoble+1.4 pt | 23.6% | 22.2% | Higher: Grenoble+1.4 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Grenoble+11% | €27,758 | €25,099 | Higher: Grenoble+11% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Grenoble+4.8 pts | 48% | 43% | More taxpaying households: Grenoble+4.8 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Grenoble+7.2 pts | 71.3% | 64.1% | Higher: Grenoble+7.2 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Grenoble+0.1 pt | 13.2% | 13.1% | Higher: Grenoble+0.1 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Laurence Ruffin | David Queiros | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | union of the left | union of the left | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+2.5 pts | 96% | 99% | Better covered: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+2.5 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Grenoble+34% | 76.91,218 in total | 57.5218 in total | More shops per capita: Grenoble+34% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble2.1 times as high | 27.9442 in total | 13.451 in total | More per capita: Grenoble2.1 times as high |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble2.3 times as high | 64.61,023 in total | 27.7105 in total | More per capita: Grenoble2.3 times as high |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+32% | 14.0221 in total | 18.570 in total | More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+32% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+16% | 2.336 in total | 2.610 in total | More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+16% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+1.8 | 1.829 in total | 0.00 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+1.8 |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Grenoble+1 | 1 | 0 | More stations: Grenoble+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | 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: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+6% | 9.9157 in total | 10.540 in total | More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+6% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+6% | 31.7502 in total | 33.8128 in total | More per capita: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+6% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble2.9 times as high | 8.5134 in total | 2.911 in total | More per capita: Grenoble2.9 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+28% | 3.759 in total | 2.911 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+28% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+2 | 7 | 9 | More facilities: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+2 |
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 | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Grenoble+42 | 62 | 20 | More schools: Grenoble+42 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Grenoble+14 | 18 | 4 | More middle schools: Grenoble+14 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Grenoble+16 | 18 | 2 | More high schools: Grenoble+16 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+1 | 32 | 33 | More facilities: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+1 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+51% | 7.0 | 10.5 | Higher rate: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+51% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+63% | 26.8 | 16.5 | Higher rate: Grenoble+63% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+80% | 6.1 | 3.4 | Higher rate: Grenoble+80% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+17% | 3.5 | 3.0 | Higher rate: Grenoble+17% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+81% | 18.0 | 10.0 | Higher rate: Grenoble+81% |
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
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+1 | 5 | 6 | More declarations: Saint-Martin-d'Hères+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Grenoble+96% | 18.1 | 9.26 | Larger: Grenoble+96% |
| Town hall elevationTie | 213 m | 213 m | Tie |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Isère (38) | Isère (38) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole | Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole | Same |
| Urban unitSame | Grenoble | Grenoble | Same |
| Functional areaSame | Grenoble | Grenoble | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Grenoble vs Saint-Martin-d'Hères at a glance
| Criterion | Grenoble | Saint-Martin-d'Hères |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 158,303 | 37,921 |
| Change over 10 years | −2.5% | −0.9% |
| Density per km² | 8,732 | 4,095 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,595 | 2,286 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,497 | 3,397 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.4 | 13.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 68.00% | 58.15% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,270 | 23,430 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 13.2% | 13.1% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 99% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 7.0 | 10.5 |
| Average temperature | 12.6°C | 12.6°C |
| Area km² | 18.1 | 9.26 |
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FAQ
Grenoble vs Saint-Martin-d'Hères: your questions
Which is the larger city, Grenoble or Saint-Martin-d'Hères?
By population, Grenoble: 158,303 inhabitants versus 37,921 for Saint-Martin-d'Hères (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Grenoble is the 19th largest city in France, Saint-Martin-d'Hères the 211th. By area, Grenoble is also the larger (18.1 km²).
How far is Grenoble from Saint-Martin-d'Hères?
Grenoble and Saint-Martin-d'Hères are 3.9 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Isère).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Grenoble or Saint-Martin-d'Hères?
To buy an apartment, Grenoble is more expensive: €2,595 per m² (median price), versus €2,286 in Saint-Martin-d'Hères (+14%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Grenoble or Saint-Martin-d'Hères?
In Grenoble, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,270 a year, versus €23,430 in Saint-Martin-d'Hères (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Grenoble and Saint-Martin-d'Hères in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Isère (38), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures