2026 comparison
La Possession vs Saint-Denis (974): 2026 comparison
Saint-Denis has more inhabitants than La Possession: 157,142 versus 37,005, or 4.2 times as many. Saint-Denis is both larger (143 km² versus 118 km²) and more densely populated (1,101 inhabitants per km² versus 313).
The median apartment price is higher in La Possession: €2,703 per m² versus €2,500. The median standard of living is higher in La Possession (€23,650 a year versus €20,240).
The two cities are 8.0 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-Denis
City in Réunion
- Population
- 157,142 inhab.
- 20th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 143 km²
- Density
- 1,101 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
La PossessionSaint-Denis
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Denis4.2 times as high | 37,005 | 157,142 | More populous: Saint-Denis4.2 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: La Possession+8.7 pts | +12.1% | +3.4% | Stronger growth: La Possession+8.7 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: La Possession+7.1 pts | +16.3% | +9.3% | Stronger growth: La Possession+7.1 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-Denis3.5 times as high | 313 | 1,101 | Denser: Saint-Denis3.5 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: La Possession+3.6 pts | 24.1% | 20.6% | More young people: La Possession+3.6 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Denis+4.2 pts | 10.3% | 14.5% | More seniors: Saint-Denis+4.2 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: La Possession+0.30 | 2.53 | 2.23 | Larger households: La Possession+0.30 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: La Possession+8% | 2,703 | 2,500 | More expensive: La Possession+8% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: La Possession+11% | 3,544 | 3,183 | More expensive: La Possession+11% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Possession+2% | 15.5 | 15.1 | More expensive: La Possession+2% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Possession+9% | 16.3 | 14.9 | More expensive: La Possession+9% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: La Possession+19 pts | 50.0% | 31.5% | More homeowners: La Possession+19 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: La Possession+23 pts | 57.3% | 34.0% | More houses: La Possession+23 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Denis+6.2 pts | 32.7% | 38.9% | More social housing: Saint-Denis+6.2 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Denis+0.5 pt | 1.3% | 1.8% | More second homes: Saint-Denis+0.5 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Denis+3.3 pts | 5.4% | 8.8% | More vacant homes: Saint-Denis+3.3 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: La Possession+11 pts | 50.19% | 38.97% | Higher rate: La Possession+11 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-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: La Possession+17% | 23,650 | 20,240 | Higher: La Possession+17% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Denis+10 pts | 24.8% | 35.0% | Higher: Saint-Denis+10 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: La Possession+15% | €28,743 | €24,973 | Higher: La Possession+15% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: La Possession+4.3 pts | 33% | 29% | More taxpaying households: La Possession+4.3 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: La Possession+5.1 pts | 75.0% | 69.9% | Higher: La Possession+5.1 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Denis+6.1 pts | 19.3% | 25.4% | Higher: Saint-Denis+6.1 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Erick Fontaine | Ericka Bareigts | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Denis+3.3 pts | 94% | 97% | Better covered: Saint-Denis+3.3 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-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Denis2.1 times as high | 30.5113 in total | 65.21,025 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Denis2.1 times as high |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+33% | 15.959 in total | 21.3334 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+33% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+35% | 35.1130 in total | 47.3744 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+35% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+0.3% | 18.669 in total | 18.7294 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+0.3% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+73% | 0.83 in total | 1.422 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+73% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis2.8 times as high | 0.31 in total | 0.812 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis2.8 times as high |
| 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-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: La Possession+11% | 5.4 | 4.8 | Better access: La Possession+11% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+27% | 7.829 in total | 10.0157 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+27% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis17 times as high | 0.83 in total | 13.9219 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis17 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 6.825 in total | 6.8107 in total | Tie |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+6% | 2.710 in total | 2.945 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+6% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Denis+9 | 1 | 10 | More facilities: Saint-Denis+9 |
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-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Denis+58 | 27 | 85 | More schools: Saint-Denis+58 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Denis+16 | 4 | 20 | More middle schools: Saint-Denis+16 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Denis+11 | 3 | 14 | More high schools: Saint-Denis+11 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Denis+26 | 0 | 26 | More facilities: Saint-Denis+26 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Denis+34% | 1.6 | 2.1 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+34% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+81% | 2.6 | 4.7 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+81% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+58% | 2.8 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+58% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Possession+6% | 1.1 | 1.0 | Higher rate: La Possession+6% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+57% | 4.6 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+57% |
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-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: La Possession+1.1 °C | 25.6°C | 24.5°C | Warmer: La Possession+1.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearTie | 2,567 | 2,567 | Tie |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Denis2.8 times as high | 539 | 1,530 | Wetter: Saint-Denis2.8 times as high |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Denis+77 days/year | 40 | 117 | More rainy days: Saint-Denis+77 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: La Possession+74 days/year | 149 | 75 | More hot days: La Possession+74 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-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Denis+4 | 17 | 21 | More declarations: Saint-Denis+4 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Denis+21% | 118 | 143 | Larger: Saint-Denis+21% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Denis+5 m | 10 m | 15 m | Higher: Saint-Denis+5 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Large urban centre | |
| DepartmentSame | Réunion (974) | Réunion (974) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | |
| Urban unit | Saint-Paul | Saint-Denis | |
| 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-Denis (974) at a glance
| Criterion | La Possession | Saint-Denis |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 37,005 | 157,142 |
| Change over 10 years | +16.3% | +9.3% |
| Density per km² | 313 | 1,101 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,703 | 2,500 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,544 | 3,183 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.5 | 15.1 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 50.19% | 38.97% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 23,650 | 20,240 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.3% | 25.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 94% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.4 | 4.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| Average temperature | 25.6°C | 24.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,567 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 118 | 143 |
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FAQ
La Possession vs Saint-Denis (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, La Possession or Saint-Denis?
By population, Saint-Denis: 157,142 inhabitants versus 37,005 for La Possession (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Denis is the 20th largest city in France, La Possession the 223rd. By area, Saint-Denis is also the larger (143 km²).
How far is La Possession from Saint-Denis?
La Possession and Saint-Denis are 8.0 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-Denis?
To buy an apartment, La Possession is more expensive: €2,703 per m² (median price), versus €2,500 in Saint-Denis (+8%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in La Possession or Saint-Denis?
In La Possession, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,650 a year, versus €20,240 in Saint-Denis (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are La Possession and Saint-Denis 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