2026 comparison
La Rochelle (17) vs Les Sables-d'Olonne: 2026 comparison
La Rochelle has more inhabitants than Les Sables-d'Olonne: 81,843 versus 50,924, or 61% more. Les Sables-d'Olonne covers a larger area (85.7 km² versus 28.4 km²), but La Rochelle is more densely populated: 2,879 inhabitants per km² versus 594.
The median apartment price is higher in La Rochelle: €4,960 per m² versus €4,717. The median standard of living is higher in Les Sables-d'Olonne (€28,010 a year versus €24,960).
The two cities are 60 km apart as the crow flies.
La Rochelle
City in Charente-Maritime
FCharente-Maritime17Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Population
- 81,843 inhab.
- 62nd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 28.4 km²
- Density
- 2,879 per km²
© Florian Pépellin, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Les Sables-d'Olonne
City in Vendée
- Population
- 50,924 inhab.
- 134th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 85.7 km²
- Density
- 594 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
La RochelleLes Sables-d'Olonne
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: La Rochelle+61% | 81,843 | 50,924 | More populous: La Rochelle+61% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Les Sables-d'Olonne+6.9 pts | +4.9% | +11.8% | Stronger growth: Les Sables-d'Olonne+6.9 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Les Sables-d'Olonne+10 pts | +7.4% | +17.7% | Stronger growth: Les Sables-d'Olonne+10 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: La Rochelle4.8 times as high | 2,879 | 594 | Denser: La Rochelle4.8 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: La Rochelle+2.5 pts | 12.6% | 10.1% | More young people: La Rochelle+2.5 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Les Sables-d'Olonne+17 pts | 25.1% | 41.8% | More seniors: Les Sables-d'Olonne+17 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Les Sables-d'Olonne+0.10 | 1.72 | 1.82 | Larger households: Les Sables-d'Olonne+0.10 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: La Rochelle+5% | 4,960 | 4,717 | More expensive: La Rochelle+5% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: La Rochelle+9% | 4,412 | 4,034 | More expensive: La Rochelle+9% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Rochelle+8% | 14.7 | 13.7 | More expensive: La Rochelle+8% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: La Rochelle+23% | 14.6 | 11.8 | More expensive: La Rochelle+23% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Les Sables-d'Olonne+29 pts | 37.1% | 65.7% | More homeowners: Les Sables-d'Olonne+29 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Les Sables-d'Olonne+32 pts | 30.0% | 62.3% | More houses: Les Sables-d'Olonne+32 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: La Rochelle+20 pts | 30.1% | 9.8% | More social housing: La Rochelle+20 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Les Sables-d'Olonne+21 pts | 14.1% | 35.3% | More second homes: Les Sables-d'Olonne+21 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: La Rochelle+2.9 pts | 6.3% | 3.4% | More vacant homes: La Rochelle+2.9 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: La Rochelle+12 pts | 55.25% | 43.59% | Higher rate: La Rochelle+12 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 Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Les Sables-d'Olonne+12% | 24,960 | 28,010 | Higher: Les Sables-d'Olonne+12% |
| Poverty rateHigher: La Rochelle+11 pts | 19.9% | 9.2% | Higher: La Rochelle+11 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Les Sables-d'Olonne+28% | €30,162 | €38,745 | Higher: Les Sables-d'Olonne+28% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Les Sables-d'Olonne+8.6 pts | 46% | 55% | More taxpaying households: Les Sables-d'Olonne+8.6 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Les Sables-d'Olonne+4.5 pts | 69.7% | 74.2% | Higher: Les Sables-d'Olonne+4.5 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: La Rochelle+2.5 pts | 14.4% | 11.8% | Higher: La Rochelle+2.5 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Olivier Falorni | Nicolas Chénéchaud | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Les Sables-d'Olonne+2.5 pts | 95% | 98% | Better covered: Les Sables-d'Olonne+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 | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Les Sables-d'Olonne+15% | 87.7718 in total | 100.7513 in total | More shops per capita: Les Sables-d'Olonne+15% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Les Sables-d'Olonne+16% | 24.3199 in total | 28.3144 in total | More per capita: Les Sables-d'Olonne+16% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+27% | 56.1459 in total | 44.0224 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+27% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+30% | 27.7227 in total | 21.4109 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+30% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+49% | 2.924 in total | 2.010 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+49% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+16% | 5.343 in total | 4.523 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+16% |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: La Rochelle+38% | 5.8 | 4.2 | Better access: La Rochelle+38% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+70% | 17.7145 in total | 10.453 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+70% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+71% | 26.1214 in total | 15.378 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+71% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: La Rochelle+11% | 10.082 in total | 9.046 in total | More per capita: La Rochelle+11% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Les Sables-d'Olonne+5% | 3.529 in total | 3.719 in total | More per capita: Les Sables-d'Olonne+5% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: La Rochelle+7 | 13 | 6 | More facilities: La Rochelle+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 Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: La Rochelle+16 | 37 | 21 | More schools: La Rochelle+16 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: La Rochelle+2 | 9 | 7 | More middle schools: La Rochelle+2 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: La Rochelle+9 | 14 | 5 | More high schools: La Rochelle+9 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: La Rochelle+15 | 20 | 5 | More facilities: La Rochelle+15 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: La Rochelle+7% | 4.0 | 3.7 | Higher rate: La Rochelle+7% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Rochelle2.0 times as high | 16.7 | 8.3 | Higher rate: La Rochelle2.0 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Rochelle2.0 times as high | 4.9 | 2.4 | Higher rate: La Rochelle2.0 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Rochelle2.3 times as high | 2.0 | 0.9 | Higher rate: La Rochelle2.3 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: La Rochelle+23% | 14.1 | 11.5 | Higher rate: La Rochelle+23% |
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 Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: La Rochelle+0.3 °C | 13.5°C | 13.2°C | Warmer: La Rochelle+0.3 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Les Sables-d'Olonne+0.9% | 2,303 | 2,324 | Sunnier: Les Sables-d'Olonne+0.9% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: La Rochelle+1% | 754 | 747 | Wetter: La Rochelle+1% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Les Sables-d'Olonne+2 days/year | 114 | 116 | More rainy days: Les Sables-d'Olonne+2 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: La Rochelle+1 days/year | 19 | 18 | More frost days: La Rochelle+1 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: La Rochelle+5 days/year | 11 | 7 | More hot days: La Rochelle+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 Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Les Sables-d'Olonne+5 | 21 | 26 | More declarations: Les Sables-d'Olonne+5 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Les Sables-d'Olonne3.0 times as high | 28.4 | 85.7 | Larger: Les Sables-d'Olonne3.0 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: La Rochelle+3 m | 7 m | 4 m | Higher: La Rochelle+3 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Urban belt | |
| Department | Charente-Maritime (17) | Vendée (85) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération de La Rochelle | Communauté d'agglomération Les Sables d'Olonne Agglomération | |
| Urban unit | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne | |
| Functional area | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
La Rochelle (17) vs Les Sables-d'Olonne at a glance
| Criterion | La Rochelle | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 81,843 | 50,924 |
| Change over 10 years | +7.4% | +17.7% |
| Density per km² | 2,879 | 594 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 4,960 | 4,717 |
| Median house price €/m² | 4,412 | 4,034 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 14.7 | 13.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 55.25% | 43.59% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,960 | 28,010 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.4% | 11.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.8 | 4.2 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.0 | 3.7 |
| Average temperature | 13.5°C | 13.2°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,303 | 2,324 |
| Area km² | 28.4 | 85.7 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
La Rochelle (17) vs Les Sables-d'Olonne: your questions
Which is the larger city, La Rochelle or Les Sables-d'Olonne?
By population, La Rochelle: 81,843 inhabitants versus 50,924 for Les Sables-d'Olonne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). La Rochelle is the 62nd largest city in France, Les Sables-d'Olonne the 134th. By area, Les Sables-d'Olonne is the larger (85.7 km²).
How far is La Rochelle from Les Sables-d'Olonne?
La Rochelle and Les Sables-d'Olonne are 60 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in La Rochelle or Les Sables-d'Olonne?
To buy an apartment, La Rochelle is more expensive: €4,960 per m² (median price), versus €4,717 in Les Sables-d'Olonne (+5%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in La Rochelle or Les Sables-d'Olonne?
In Les Sables-d'Olonne, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,010 a year, versus €24,960 in La Rochelle (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, La Rochelle or Les Sables-d'Olonne?
Les Sables-d'Olonne: 2,324 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 2,303 in La Rochelle (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