2026 comparison
Lille vs Saint-Étienne: 2026 comparison
Lille has more inhabitants than Saint-Étienne: 240,109 versus 174,698, or 37% more. Saint-Étienne covers a larger area (80.0 km² versus 34.8 km²), but Lille is more densely populated: 6,894 inhabitants per km² versus 2,185.
The median apartment price is higher in Lille: €3,777 per m² versus €1,219. The median standard of living is higher in Lille (€22,470 a year versus €20,880).
The two cities are 587 km apart as the crow flies.
Lille
City in Nord
- Population
- 240,109 inhab.
- 10th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 34.8 km²
- Density
- 6,894 per km²
Saint-Étienne
City in Loire
- Population
- 174,698 inhab.
- 14th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 80.0 km²
- Density
- 2,185 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
LilleSaint-Étienne
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Lille+37% | 240,109 | 174,698 | More populous: Lille+37% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Lille+2.2 pts | +2.2% | +0.0% | Stronger growth: Lille+2.2 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Lille+2.3 pts | +2.9% | +0.6% | Stronger growth: Lille+2.3 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Lille3.2 times as high | 6,894 | 2,185 | Denser: Lille3.2 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Étienne+2.9 pts | 14.1% | 17.0% | More young people: Saint-Étienne+2.9 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Étienne+9.5 pts | 11.1% | 20.5% | More seniors: Saint-Étienne+9.5 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Étienne+0.16 | 1.79 | 1.95 | Larger households: Saint-Étienne+0.16 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Lille3.1 times as high | 3,777 | 1,219 | More expensive: Lille3.1 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Lille+30% | 2,828 | 2,172 | More expensive: Lille+30% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lille+59% | 15.8 | 9.9 | More expensive: Lille+59% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lille+41% | 12.7 | 9.1 | More expensive: Lille+41% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Étienne+11 pts | 27.6% | 38.9% | More homeowners: Saint-Étienne+11 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Lille+9.0 pts | 19.7% | 10.7% | More houses: Lille+9.0 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | — | 31.9% | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Lille+1.0 pt | 3.4% | 2.4% | More second homes: Lille+1.0 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+4.0 pts | 8.0% | 12.0% | More vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+4.0 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Lille+0.6 pt | 48.91% | 48.28% | Higher rate: Lille+0.6 pt |
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 | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Lille+8% | 22,470 | 20,880 | Higher: Lille+8% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Étienne+1.8 pt | 28.6% | 30.4% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+1.8 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Lille+16% | €27,252 | €23,469 | Higher: Lille+16% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Lille+6.5 pts | 43% | 37% | More taxpaying households: Lille+6.5 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.6 pt | 67.8% | 68.3% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.6 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Étienne+3.3 pts | 15.7% | 19.0% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+3.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Arnaud Deslandes | Régis Juanico | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | union of the left | union of the left | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Étienne+2.3 pts | 94% | 97% | Better covered: Saint-Étienne+2.3 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Lille+15% | 73.91,774 in total | 64.31,123 in total | More shops per capita: Lille+15% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+6% | 23.3560 in total | 21.9383 in total | More per capita: Lille+6% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+86% | 69.61,671 in total | 37.4653 in total | More per capita: Lille+86% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+36% | 10.5253 in total | 14.3250 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+36% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+16% | 1.740 in total | 1.425 in total | More per capita: Lille+16% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille2.0 times as high | 2.356 in total | 1.120 in total | More per capita: Lille2.0 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Lille+2 | 7 | 5 | More stations: Lille+2 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Lille+63% | 6.2 | 3.8 | Better access: Lille+63% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+40% | 12.9309 in total | 9.2161 in total | More per capita: Lille+40% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille2.6 times as high | 40.7977 in total | 15.7275 in total | More per capita: Lille2.6 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+45% | 6.0143 in total | 4.172 in total | More per capita: Lille+45% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+12% | 3.277 in total | 2.950 in total | More per capita: Lille+12% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Lille+18 | 27 | 9 | More facilities: Lille+18 |
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 | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Lille+19 | 109 | 90 | More schools: Lille+19 |
| Middle schoolsTie | 24 | 24 | Tie |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Lille+1 | 25 | 24 | More high schools: Lille+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Lille+70 | 109 | 39 | More facilities: Lille+70 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Étienne+11% | 9.0 | 9.9 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+11% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille2.0 times as high | 30.5 | 15.3 | Higher rate: Lille2.0 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille+52% | 6.6 | 4.3 | Higher rate: Lille+52% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille+30% | 3.6 | 2.8 | Higher rate: Lille+30% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+19% | 12.8 | 15.2 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+19% |
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 | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Étienne+0.1 °C | 11.3°C | 11.4°C | Warmer: Saint-Étienne+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Étienne+24% | 1,627 | 2,018 | Sunnier: Saint-Étienne+24% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Étienne+7% | 740 | 794 | Wetter: Saint-Étienne+7% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Lille+22 days/year | 126 | 105 | More rainy days: Lille+22 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saint-Étienne+23 days/year | 37 | 60 | More frost days: Saint-Étienne+23 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Étienne+14 days/year | 7 | 20 | More hot days: Saint-Étienne+14 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 | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Étienne+2 | 19 | 21 | More declarations: Saint-Étienne+2 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Étienne2.3 times as high | 34.8 | 80.0 | Larger: Saint-Étienne2.3 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Étienne+492 m | 23 m | 515 m | Higher: Saint-Étienne+492 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Nord (59) | Loire (42) | |
| Intercommunality | Métropole Européenne de Lille | Saint-Etienne Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Lille (partie française) | Saint-Étienne | |
| Functional area | Lille (partie française) | Saint-Étienne |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Lille vs Saint-Étienne at a glance
| Criterion | Lille | Saint-Étienne |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 240,109 | 174,698 |
| Change over 10 years | +2.9% | +0.6% |
| Density per km² | 6,894 | 2,185 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 3,777 | 1,219 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,828 | 2,172 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.8 | 9.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.91% | 48.28% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,470 | 20,880 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 15.7% | 19.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 94% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 6.2 | 3.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| Average temperature | 11.3°C | 11.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,627 | 2,018 |
| Area km² | 34.8 | 80.0 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Lille vs Saint-Étienne: your questions
Which is the larger city, Lille or Saint-Étienne?
By population, Lille: 240,109 inhabitants versus 174,698 for Saint-Étienne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Lille is the 10th largest city in France, Saint-Étienne the 14th. By area, Saint-Étienne is the larger (80.0 km²).
How far is Lille from Saint-Étienne?
Lille and Saint-Étienne are 587 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Lille or Saint-Étienne?
To buy an apartment, Lille is more expensive: €3,777 per m² (median price), versus €1,219 in Saint-Étienne (+210%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Lille or Saint-Étienne?
In Lille, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,470 a year, versus €20,880 in Saint-Étienne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Lille or Saint-Étienne?
Saint-Étienne: 2,018 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,627 in Lille (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