Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Le Havre vs Toulouse: 2026 comparison

Toulouse has more inhabitants than Le Havre: 519,940 versus 168,588, or 3.1 times as many. Toulouse is both larger (118 km² versus 47.0 km²) and more densely populated (4,395 inhabitants per km² versus 3,591).

The median apartment price is higher in Toulouse: €3,295 per m² versus €2,326. The median standard of living is higher in Toulouse (€24,500 a year versus €22,480).

The two cities are 663 km apart as the crow flies.

Le HavreToulouse
Le HavreToulouse663 km as the crow flies

Le Havre

City in Seine-Maritime

Seine-Maritime76Normandy

Population
168,588 inhab.
15th in France · 1st in its department
Area
47.0 km²
Density
3,591 per km²
Full profile of Le Havre

Toulouse

City in Haute-Garonne

Haute-Garonne31Occitanie

Population
519,940 inhab.
4th in France · 1st in its department
Area
118 km²
Density
4,395 per km²
Full profile of Toulouse

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

Le HavreToulouse

Population: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Toulouse3.1 times as high168,588519,940More populous: Toulouse3.1 times as high
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Toulouse+7.5 pts−1.8%+5.7%Stronger growth: Toulouse+7.5 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Toulouse+15 pts−3.1%+12.3%Stronger growth: Toulouse+15 pts
Density per km²Denser: Toulouse+22%3,5914,395Denser: Toulouse+22%
Under 15More young people: Le Havre+4.1 pts17.8%13.8%More young people: Le Havre+4.1 pts
65 and overMore seniors: Le Havre+7.9 pts20.9%13.0%More seniors: Le Havre+7.9 pts
People per householdLarger households: Le Havre+0.201.981.78Larger households: Le Havre+0.20

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Toulouse+42%2,3263,295More expensive: Toulouse+42%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Toulouse+56%2,4293,800More expensive: Toulouse+56%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Toulouse+13%12.414.0More expensive: Toulouse+13%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Toulouse+9%11.812.9More expensive: Toulouse+9%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Le Havre+6.7 pts38.8%32.2%More homeowners: Le Havre+6.7 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Le Havre+11 pts25.8%15.0%More houses: Le Havre+11 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Le Havre+18 pts40.3%22.1%More social housing: Le Havre+18 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Toulouse+1.3 pt2.6%4.0%More second homes: Toulouse+1.3 pt
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Le Havre+2.6 pts10.9%8.2%More vacant homes: Le Havre+2.6 pts
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Le Havre+4.8 pts54.47%49.67%Higher rate: Le Havre+4.8 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

Income and jobs: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Toulouse+9%22,48024,500Higher: Toulouse+9%
Poverty rateHigher: Le Havre+0.2 pt24.2%24.0%Higher: Le Havre+0.2 pt
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Toulouse+14%€25,768€29,462Higher: Toulouse+14%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Toulouse+5.4 pts42%47%More taxpaying households: Toulouse+5.4 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Toulouse+1.9 pt70.9%72.8%Higher: Toulouse+1.9 pt
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Le Havre+4.3 pts18.5%14.3%Higher: Le Havre+4.3 pts

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
MayorEdouard PhilippeJean-Luc Moudenc
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)union of the centremiscellaneous right
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Le Havre+3.3 pts97%93%Better covered: Le Havre+3.3 pts

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Toulouse+0.2%56.5953 in total56.72,946 in totalMore shops per capita: Toulouse+0.2%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Le Havre+6%20.2341 in total19.1995 in totalMore per capita: Le Havre+6%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+32%35.8603 in total47.32,460 in totalMore per capita: Toulouse+32%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.Tie16.1272 in total16.1838 in totalTie
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Le Havre+59%2.135 in total1.368 in totalMore per capita: Le Havre+59%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+28%1.525 in total1.999 in totalMore per capita: Toulouse+28%
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Toulouse+9110More stations: Toulouse+9

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Toulouse+19%3.74.4Better access: Toulouse+19%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+18%9.1153 in total10.8559 in totalMore per capita: Toulouse+18%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+47%17.9302 in total26.31,366 in totalMore per capita: Toulouse+47%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+71%5.592 in total9.3486 in totalMore per capita: Toulouse+71%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+10%2.745 in total2.9152 in totalMore per capita: Toulouse+10%
HospitalsMore facilities: Toulouse+271441More facilities: Toulouse+27

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

Education: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Toulouse+121100221More schools: Toulouse+121
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Toulouse+272451More middle schools: Toulouse+27
High schoolsMore high schools: Toulouse+442064More high schools: Toulouse+44
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Toulouse+14227169More facilities: Toulouse+142

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Toulouse+14%5.66.4Higher rate: Toulouse+14%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulouse2.0 times as high10.220.5Higher rate: Toulouse2.0 times as high
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Le Havre+3%5.15.0Higher rate: Le Havre+3%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulouse+20%1.72.1Higher rate: Toulouse+20%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulouse+11%10.311.5Higher rate: Toulouse+11%

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

Climate: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Toulouse+2.4 °C11.8°C14.2°CWarmer: Toulouse+2.4 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Toulouse+26%1,6512,075Sunnier: Toulouse+26%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Le Havre+26%790627Wetter: Le Havre+26%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Le Havre+32 days/year12896More rainy days: Le Havre+32 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Toulouse+12 days/year1527More frost days: Toulouse+12 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Toulouse+31 days/year333More hot days: Toulouse+31 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Toulouse+232548More declarations: Toulouse+23
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Toulouse+224More plans: Toulouse+2
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Le Havre and Toulouse compared
CriterionLe HavreToulouseDifference
Area km²Larger: Toulouse2.5 times as high47.0118Larger: Toulouse2.5 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Toulouse+138 m5 m143 mHigher: Toulouse+138 m
Coastal communeYes (sea)No
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentSeine-Maritime (76)Haute-Garonne (31)
IntercommunalityCommunauté urbaine Le Havre Seine MétropoleToulouse Métropole
Urban unitLe HavreToulouse
Functional areaLe HavreToulouse

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Le Havre vs Toulouse at a glance

Summary table: Le Havre and Toulouse
CriterionLe HavreToulouse
Population inhab.168,588519,940
Change over 10 years−3.1%+12.3%
Density per km²3,5914,395
Median apartment price €/m²2,3263,295
Median house price €/m²2,4293,800
Apartment rent €/m²12.414.0
Property tax (combined rate)54.47%49.67%
Median standard of living €/year22,48024,500
Unemployment rate (census)18.5%14.3%
Premises with fiber97%93%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year3.74.4
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes5.66.4
Average temperature11.8°C14.2°C
Sunshine h/year1,6512,075
Area km²47.0118

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Le Havre vs Toulouse: your questions

Which is the larger city, Le Havre or Toulouse?

By population, Toulouse: 519,940 inhabitants versus 168,588 for Le Havre (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Toulouse is the 4th largest city in France, Le Havre the 15th. By area, Toulouse is also the larger (118 km²).

How far is Le Havre from Toulouse?

Le Havre and Toulouse are 663 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Le Havre or Toulouse?

To buy an apartment, Toulouse is more expensive: €3,295 per m² (median price), versus €2,326 in Le Havre (+42%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Le Havre or Toulouse?

In Toulouse, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,500 a year, versus €22,480 in Le Havre (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Le Havre or Toulouse?

Toulouse: 2,075 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,651 in Le Havre (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

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