Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Lille vs Tourcoing: 2026 comparison

Lille has more inhabitants than Tourcoing: 240,109 versus 99,346, or 2.4 times as many. Lille is both larger (34.8 km² versus 15.2 km²) and more densely populated (6,894 inhabitants per km² versus 6,540).

The median apartment price is higher in Lille: €3,777 per m² versus €1,830. The median standard of living is higher in Lille (€22,470 a year versus €20,250).

The two cities are 13 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Lille (partie française)).

LilleTourcoing
LilleTourcoing13 km as the crow flies

Lille

City in Nord

Nord59Hauts-de-France

Population
240,109 inhab.
10th in France · 1st in its department
Area
34.8 km²
Density
6,894 per km²
Full profile of Lille

© Velvet, CC BY-SA 3.0

Tourcoing

City in Nord

Nord59Hauts-de-France

Population
99,346 inhab.
43rd in France · 2nd in its department
Area
15.2 km²
Density
6,540 per km²
Full profile of Tourcoing

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

LilleTourcoing

Population: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Lille2.4 times as high240,10999,346More populous: Lille2.4 times as high
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Lille+0.8 pt+2.2%+1.4%Stronger growth: Lille+0.8 pt
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Tourcoing+2.2 pts+2.9%+5.1%Stronger growth: Tourcoing+2.2 pts
Density per km²Denser: Lille+5%6,8946,540Denser: Lille+5%
Under 15More young people: Tourcoing+7.2 pts14.1%21.3%More young people: Tourcoing+7.2 pts
65 and overMore seniors: Tourcoing+3.0 pts11.1%14.0%More seniors: Tourcoing+3.0 pts
People per householdLarger households: Tourcoing+0.551.792.34Larger households: Tourcoing+0.55

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

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Lille2.1 times as high3,7771,830More expensive: Lille2.1 times as high
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Lille+54%2,8281,837More expensive: Lille+54%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lille+20%15.813.2More expensive: Lille+20%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lille+26%12.710.1More expensive: Lille+26%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Tourcoing+20 pts27.6%48.0%More homeowners: Tourcoing+20 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Tourcoing+33 pts19.7%53.0%More houses: Tourcoing+33 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Lille+2.8 pts3.4%0.6%More second homes: Lille+2.8 pts
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Tourcoing+1.1 pt8.0%9.1%More vacant homes: Tourcoing+1.1 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Tourcoing+2.6 pts48.91%51.55%Higher rate: Tourcoing+2.6 pts

Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, DGFiP, local taxation

Income and jobs

Residents’ income and jobs

Income and jobs: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Lille+11%22,47020,250Higher: Lille+11%
Poverty rateHigher: Tourcoing+1.7 pt28.6%30.3%Higher: Tourcoing+1.7 pt
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Lille+22%€27,252€22,302Higher: Lille+22%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Lille+9.6 pts43%34%More taxpaying households: Lille+9.6 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Tourcoing+4.9 pts67.8%72.6%Higher: Tourcoing+4.9 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Tourcoing+3.2 pts15.7%18.9%Higher: Tourcoing+3.2 pts

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

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
MayorArnaud DeslandesDoriane Becue
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)union of the leftmiscellaneous right
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Tourcoing+1.7 pt94%96%Better covered: Tourcoing+1.7 pt

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

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Lille2.0 times as high73.91,774 in total36.5363 in totalMore shops per capita: Lille2.0 times as high
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+58%23.3560 in total14.8147 in totalMore per capita: Lille+58%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille2.5 times as high69.61,671 in total27.6274 in totalMore per capita: Lille2.5 times as high
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+16%10.5253 in total9.190 in totalMore per capita: Lille+16%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+38%1.740 in total1.212 in totalMore per capita: Lille+38%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille7.7 times as high2.356 in total0.33 in totalMore per capita: Lille7.7 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Lille+671More stations: Lille+6

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

Health

Health care

Health: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Lille+47%6.24.2Better access: Lille+47%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+18%12.9309 in total10.9108 in totalMore per capita: Lille+18%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille2.8 times as high40.7977 in total14.3142 in totalMore per capita: Lille2.8 times as high
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+2%6.0143 in total5.858 in totalMore per capita: Lille+2%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lille+3%3.277 in total3.131 in totalMore per capita: Lille+3%
HospitalsMore facilities: Lille+18279More 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

Education: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Lille+4910960More schools: Lille+49
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Lille+92415More middle schools: Lille+9
High schoolsMore high schools: Lille+16259More high schools: Lille+16
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Lille+9610913More facilities: Lille+96

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

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Lille+45%9.06.2Higher rate: Lille+45%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille3.2 times as high30.59.6Higher rate: Lille3.2 times as high
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille+38%6.64.7Higher rate: Lille+38%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille+12%3.63.2Higher rate: Lille+12%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lille+13%12.811.3Higher rate: Lille+13%

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)

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Tourcoing+11920More declarations: Tourcoing+1
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Lille+121More plans: Lille+1
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Lille and Tourcoing compared
CriterionLilleTourcoingDifference
Area km²Larger: Lille2.3 times as high34.815.2Larger: Lille2.3 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Tourcoing+18 m23 m41 mHigher: Tourcoing+18 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentSameNord (59)Nord (59)Same
IntercommunalitySameMétropole Européenne de LilleMétropole Européenne de LilleSame
Urban unitSameLille (partie française)Lille (partie française)Same
Functional areaSameLille (partie française)Lille (partie française)Same

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

Summary

Lille vs Tourcoing at a glance

Summary table: Lille and Tourcoing
CriterionLilleTourcoing
Population inhab.240,10999,346
Change over 10 years+2.9%+5.1%
Density per km²6,8946,540
Median apartment price €/m²3,7771,830
Median house price €/m²2,8281,837
Apartment rent €/m²15.813.2
Property tax (combined rate)48.91%51.55%
Median standard of living €/year22,47020,250
Unemployment rate (census)15.7%18.9%
Premises with fiber94%96%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year6.24.2
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes9.06.2
Average temperature11.3°C11.3°C
Sunshine h/year1,6271,627
Area km²34.815.2

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Lille vs Tourcoing: your questions

Which is the larger city, Lille or Tourcoing?

By population, Lille: 240,109 inhabitants versus 99,346 for Tourcoing (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Lille is the 10th largest city in France, Tourcoing the 43rd. By area, Lille is also the larger (34.8 km²).

How far is Lille from Tourcoing?

Lille and Tourcoing are 13 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Nord).

Where is real estate more expensive, in Lille or Tourcoing?

To buy an apartment, Lille is more expensive: €3,777 per m² (median price), versus €1,830 in Tourcoing (+106%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Lille or Tourcoing?

In Lille, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,470 a year, versus €20,250 in Tourcoing (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Are Lille and Tourcoing in the same department?

Yes: both towns are in Nord (59), in the Hauts-de-France region.

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

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