2026 comparison
La Possession vs Saint-André (974): 2026 comparison
Saint-André has more inhabitants than La Possession: 59,351 versus 37,005, or 60% more. La Possession covers a larger area (118 km² versus 53.1 km²), but Saint-André is more densely populated: 1,118 inhabitants per km² versus 313.
The median apartment price is higher in La Possession: €2,703 per m² versus €1,614. The median standard of living is higher in La Possession (€23,650 a year versus €17,030).
The two cities are 26 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
La Possession
City in Réunion
- Population
- 37,005 inhab.
- 223rd in France · 10th in its department
- Area
- 118 km²
- Density
- 313 per km²
Saint-André
City in Réunion
- Population
- 59,351 inhab.
- 102nd in France · 5th in its department
- Area
- 53.1 km²
- Density
- 1,118 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
La PossessionSaint-André
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-André+60% | 37,005 | 59,351 | More populous: Saint-André+60% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: La Possession+8.3 pts | +12.1% | +3.8% | Stronger growth: La Possession+8.3 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: La Possession+11 pts | +16.3% | +4.9% | Stronger growth: La Possession+11 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-André3.6 times as high | 313 | 1,118 | Denser: Saint-André3.6 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-André+0.9 pt | 24.1% | 25.0% | More young people: Saint-André+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-André+1.1 pt | 10.3% | 11.4% | More seniors: Saint-André+1.1 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-André+0.17 | 2.53 | 2.70 | Larger households: Saint-André+0.17 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: La Possession+67% | 2,703 | 1,614 | More expensive: La Possession+67% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: La Possession+67% | 3,544 | 2,116 | More expensive: La Possession+67% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Possession+19% | 15.5 | 13.0 | More expensive: La Possession+19% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Possession+39% | 16.3 | 11.7 | More expensive: La Possession+39% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: La Possession+1.9 pt | 50.0% | 48.1% | More homeowners: La Possession+1.9 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-André+14 pts | 57.3% | 71.7% | More houses: Saint-André+14 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: La Possession+5.5 pts | 32.7% | 27.2% | More social housing: La Possession+5.5 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: La Possession+0.3 pt | 1.3% | 1.0% | More second homes: La Possession+0.3 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-André+1.8 pt | 5.4% | 7.2% | More vacant homes: Saint-André+1.8 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: La Possession+7.5 pts | 50.19% | 42.67% | Higher rate: La Possession+7.5 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 | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: La Possession+39% | 23,650 | 17,030 | Higher: La Possession+39% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-André+19 pts | 24.8% | 43.6% | Higher: Saint-André+19 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: La Possession+61% | €28,743 | €17,839 | Higher: La Possession+61% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: La Possession+15 pts | 33% | 17% | More taxpaying households: La Possession+15 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: La Possession+10 pts | 75.0% | 65.0% | Higher: La Possession+10 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-André+11 pts | 19.3% | 30.7% | Higher: Saint-André+11 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Erick Fontaine | Joé Bedier | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | miscellaneous left | miscellaneous left | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-André+4.4 pts | 94% | 98% | Better covered: Saint-André+4.4 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-André+88% | 30.5113 in total | 57.3340 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-André+88% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-André+54% | 15.959 in total | 24.6146 in total | More per capita: Saint-André+54% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-André+7% | 35.1130 in total | 37.6223 in total | More per capita: Saint-André+7% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Possession+29% | 18.669 in total | 14.586 in total | More per capita: La Possession+29% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Possession+60% | 0.83 in total | 0.53 in total | More per capita: La Possession+60% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Possession+0.3 | 0.31 in total | 0.00 in total | More per capita: La Possession+0.3 |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: La Possession+20% | 5.4 | 4.5 | Better access: La Possession+20% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-André+10% | 7.829 in total | 8.651 in total | More per capita: Saint-André+10% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-André8.1 times as high | 0.83 in total | 6.639 in total | More per capita: Saint-André8.1 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Possession+60% | 6.825 in total | 4.225 in total | More per capita: La Possession+60% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-André+6% | 2.710 in total | 2.917 in total | More per capita: Saint-André+6% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-André+2 | 1 | 3 | More facilities: Saint-André+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 | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-André+4 | 27 | 31 | More schools: Saint-André+4 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-André+4 | 4 | 8 | More middle schools: Saint-André+4 |
| High schoolsTie | 3 | 3 | Tie |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-André+1 | 0 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-André+1 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-André4.9 times as high | 1.6 | 7.7 | Higher rate: Saint-André4.9 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-André+29% | 2.6 | 3.3 | Higher rate: Saint-André+29% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-André+81% | 2.8 | 5.1 | Higher rate: Saint-André+81% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Possession2.3 times as high | 1.1 | 0.5 | Higher rate: La Possession2.3 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-André+25% | 4.6 | 5.7 | Higher rate: Saint-André+25% |
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 | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: La Possession+2.6 °C | 25.6°C | 23.0°C | Warmer: La Possession+2.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearTie | 2,567 | 2,567 | Tie |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-André6.3 times as high | 539 | 3,411 | Wetter: Saint-André6.3 times as high |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-André+153 days/year | 40 | 193 | More rainy days: Saint-André+153 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: La Possession+107 days/year | 149 | 42 | More hot days: La Possession+107 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 | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982Tie | 17 | 17 | Tie |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saint-André+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Saint-André+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: La Possession2.2 times as high | 118 | 53.1 | Larger: La Possession2.2 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-André+82 m | 10 m | 93 m | Higher: Saint-André+82 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Réunion (974) | Réunion (974) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale de la Réunion Est (CIREST) | |
| Urban unit | Saint-Paul | Saint-André | |
| Functional areaSame | Saint-Denis | Saint-Denis | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
La Possession vs Saint-André (974) at a glance
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-André |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 37,005 | 59,351 |
| Change over 10 years | +16.3% | +4.9% |
| Density per km² | 313 | 1,118 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,703 | 1,614 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,544 | 2,116 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.5 | 13.0 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 50.19% | 42.67% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,650 | 17,030 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.3% | 30.7% |
| Premises with fiber | 94% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.4 | 4.5 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 1.6 | 7.7 |
| Average temperature | 25.6°C | 23.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,567 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 118 | 53.1 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
La Possession vs Saint-André (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, La Possession or Saint-André?
By population, Saint-André: 59,351 inhabitants versus 37,005 for La Possession (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-André is the 102nd largest city in France, La Possession the 223rd. By area, La Possession is the larger (118 km²).
How far is La Possession from Saint-André?
La Possession and Saint-André are 26 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Réunion).
Where is real estate more expensive, in La Possession or Saint-André?
To buy an apartment, La Possession is more expensive: €2,703 per m² (median price), versus €1,614 in Saint-André (+67%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in La Possession or Saint-André?
In La Possession, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,650 a year, versus €17,030 in Saint-André (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are La Possession and Saint-André in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Réunion (974), in the Réunion region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures