2026 comparison
La Roche-sur-Yon vs Montaigu-Vendée: 2026 comparison
La Roche-sur-Yon has more inhabitants than Montaigu-Vendée: 57,683 versus 21,789, or 2.6 times as many. Montaigu-Vendée covers a larger area (117 km² versus 87.5 km²), but La Roche-sur-Yon is more densely populated: 659 inhabitants per km² versus 187.
The median apartment price is higher in Montaigu-Vendée: €2,703 per m² versus €2,417. The median standard of living is higher in Montaigu-Vendée (€27,250 a year versus €25,090).
The two cities are 36 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
La Roche-sur-Yon
City in Vendée
- Population
- 57,683 inhab.
- 106th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 87.5 km²
- Density
- 659 per km²
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Montaigu-Vendée
City in Vendée
- Population
- 21,789 inhab.
- 438th in France · 4th in its department
- Area
- 117 km²
- Density
- 187 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
La Roche-sur-YonMontaigu-Vendée
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: La Roche-sur-Yon2.6 times as high | 57,683 | 21,789 | More populous: La Roche-sur-Yon2.6 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Montaigu-Vendée+4.3 pts | +0.2% | +4.5% | Stronger growth: Montaigu-Vendée+4.3 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Montaigu-Vendée+3.8 pts | +4.0% | +7.9% | Stronger growth: Montaigu-Vendée+3.8 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: La Roche-sur-Yon3.5 times as high | 659 | 187 | Denser: La Roche-sur-Yon3.5 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Montaigu-Vendée+3.7 pts | 14.5% | 18.3% | More young people: Montaigu-Vendée+3.7 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: La Roche-sur-Yon+4.5 pts | 23.0% | 18.4% | More seniors: La Roche-sur-Yon+4.5 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Montaigu-Vendée+0.38 | 1.88 | 2.26 | Larger households: Montaigu-Vendée+0.38 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Montaigu-Vendée+12% | 2,417 | 2,703 | More expensive: Montaigu-Vendée+12% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: La Roche-sur-Yon+2% | 2,403 | 2,345 | More expensive: La Roche-sur-Yon+2% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Montaigu-Vendée+14% | 11.8 | 13.5 | More expensive: Montaigu-Vendée+14% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Roche-sur-Yon+7% | 10.8 | 10.1 | More expensive: La Roche-sur-Yon+7% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Montaigu-Vendée+22 pts | 48.5% | 70.2% | More homeowners: Montaigu-Vendée+22 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Montaigu-Vendée+34 pts | 50.0% | 84.4% | More houses: Montaigu-Vendée+34 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: La Roche-sur-Yon+19 pts | 29.8% | 11.1% | More social housing: La Roche-sur-Yon+19 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: La Roche-sur-Yon+2.4 pts | 3.7% | 1.3% | More second homes: La Roche-sur-Yon+2.4 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: La Roche-sur-Yon+2.6 pts | 6.6% | 3.9% | More vacant homes: La Roche-sur-Yon+2.6 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon+11 pts | 51.05% | 40.39% | Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon+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 Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Montaigu-Vendée+9% | 25,090 | 27,250 | Higher: Montaigu-Vendée+9% |
| Poverty rateHigher: La Roche-sur-Yon+9.2 pts | 15.6% | 6.4% | Higher: La Roche-sur-Yon+9.2 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Montaigu-Vendée+38% | €29,192 | €40,228 | Higher: Montaigu-Vendée+38% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Montaigu-Vendée+7.2 pts | 46% | 53% | More taxpaying households: Montaigu-Vendée+7.2 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Montaigu-Vendée+7.9 pts | 72.8% | 80.7% | Higher: Montaigu-Vendée+7.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: La Roche-sur-Yon+5.6 pts | 11.3% | 5.8% | Higher: La Roche-sur-Yon+5.6 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Romain Bossis | Florent Limouzin | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Montaigu-Vendée+1.5 pt | 95% | 96% | Better covered: Montaigu-Vendée+1.5 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+22% | 76.5441 in total | 62.4136 in total | More shops per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+22% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+5% | 17.3100 in total | 16.536 in total | More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+5% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+80% | 29.8172 in total | 16.536 in total | More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+80% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montaigu-Vendée+3% | 25.8149 in total | 26.658 in total | More per capita: Montaigu-Vendée+3% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montaigu-Vendée+22% | 2.313 in total | 2.86 in total | More per capita: Montaigu-Vendée+22% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+4% | 1.911 in total | 1.84 in total | More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+4% |
| 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 | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: La Roche-sur-Yon+9% | 3.7 | 3.4 | Better access: La Roche-sur-Yon+9% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Montaigu-Vendée+10% | 8.348 in total | 9.220 in total | More per capita: Montaigu-Vendée+10% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon2.6 times as high | 24.3140 in total | 9.220 in total | More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon2.6 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+27% | 9.454 in total | 7.316 in total | More per capita: La Roche-sur-Yon+27% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 2.816 in total | 2.86 in total | Tie |
| HospitalsMore facilities: La Roche-sur-Yon+7 | 10 | 3 | More facilities: La Roche-sur-Yon+7 |
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 Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: La Roche-sur-Yon+25 | 36 | 11 | More schools: La Roche-sur-Yon+25 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: La Roche-sur-Yon+5 | 11 | 6 | More middle schools: La Roche-sur-Yon+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: La Roche-sur-Yon+12 | 16 | 4 | More high schools: La Roche-sur-Yon+12 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: La Roche-sur-Yon+18 | 19 | 1 | More facilities: La Roche-sur-Yon+18 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon+18% | 4.6 | 3.9 | Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon+18% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon2.5 times as high | 9.5 | 3.8 | Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon2.5 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon3.2 times as high | 4.8 | 1.5 | Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon3.2 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Montaigu-Vendée+21% | 1.4 | 1.7 | Higher rate: Montaigu-Vendée+21% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon2.5 times as high | 11.4 | 4.5 | Higher rate: La Roche-sur-Yon2.5 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 | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureTie | 12.4°C | 12.4°C | Tie |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: La Roche-sur-Yon+3% | 1,922 | 1,873 | Sunnier: La Roche-sur-Yon+3% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: La Roche-sur-Yon+7% | 886 | 831 | Wetter: La Roche-sur-Yon+7% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: La Roche-sur-Yon+2 days/year | 122 | 120 | More rainy days: La Roche-sur-Yon+2 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Montaigu-Vendée+6 days/year | 33 | 39 | More frost days: Montaigu-Vendée+6 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Montaigu-Vendée+5 days/year | 11 | 16 | More hot days: Montaigu-Vendée+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 | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982Tie | 19 | 19 | Tie |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Significant | Significant | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Montaigu-Vendée+33% | 87.5 | 117 | Larger: Montaigu-Vendée+33% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: La Roche-sur-Yon+35 m | 71 m | 37 m | Higher: La Roche-sur-Yon+35 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Intermediate urban centre | Urban belt | |
| DepartmentSame | Vendée (85) | Vendée (85) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération La Roche-sur-Yon Agglomération | Communauté d'agglomération Terres de Montaigu | |
| Urban unit | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée | |
| Functional area | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
La Roche-sur-Yon vs Montaigu-Vendée at a glance
| Criterion | La Roche-sur-Yon | Montaigu-Vendée |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 57,683 | 21,789 |
| Change over 10 years | +4.0% | +7.9% |
| Density per km² | 659 | 187 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,417 | 2,703 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,403 | 2,345 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.8 | 13.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 51.05% | 40.39% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 25,090 | 27,250 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 11.3% | 5.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 96% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.6 | 3.9 |
| Average temperature | 12.4°C | 12.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,922 | 1,873 |
| Area km² | 87.5 | 117 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
La Roche-sur-Yon vs Montaigu-Vendée: your questions
Which is the larger city, La Roche-sur-Yon or Montaigu-Vendée?
By population, La Roche-sur-Yon: 57,683 inhabitants versus 21,789 for Montaigu-Vendée (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). La Roche-sur-Yon is the 106th largest city in France, Montaigu-Vendée the 438th. By area, Montaigu-Vendée is the larger (117 km²).
How far is La Roche-sur-Yon from Montaigu-Vendée?
La Roche-sur-Yon and Montaigu-Vendée are 36 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Vendée).
Where is real estate more expensive, in La Roche-sur-Yon or Montaigu-Vendée?
To buy an apartment, Montaigu-Vendée is more expensive: €2,703 per m² (median price), versus €2,417 in La Roche-sur-Yon (+12%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in La Roche-sur-Yon or Montaigu-Vendée?
In Montaigu-Vendée, half of the residents have a standard of living above €27,250 a year, versus €25,090 in La Roche-sur-Yon (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, La Roche-sur-Yon or Montaigu-Vendée?
La Roche-sur-Yon: 1,922 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,873 in Montaigu-Vendée (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures