2026 comparison
Nantes vs Saint-Herblain: 2026 comparison
Nantes has more inhabitants than Saint-Herblain: 332,515 versus 51,681, or 6.4 times as many. Nantes is both larger (65.2 km² versus 30.0 km²) and more densely populated (5,101 inhabitants per km² versus 1,722).
The median apartment price is higher in Nantes: €3,621 per m² versus €2,642. The median standard of living is higher in Nantes (€26,720 a year versus €25,940).
The two cities are 5.5 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Nantes).
Nantes
City in Loire-Atlantique
FLoire-Atlantique44Pays de la Loire
- Population
- 332,515 inhab.
- 6th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 65.2 km²
- Density
- 5,101 per km²
Saint-Herblain
City in Loire-Atlantique
FLoire-Atlantique44Pays de la Loire
- Population
- 51,681 inhab.
- 131st in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 30.0 km²
- Density
- 1,722 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
NantesSaint-Herblain
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Nantes6.4 times as high | 332,515 | 51,681 | More populous: Nantes6.4 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Herblain+5.6 pts | +4.3% | +10.0% | Stronger growth: Saint-Herblain+5.6 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Herblain+4.5 pts | +12.0% | +16.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Herblain+4.5 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Nantes3.0 times as high | 5,101 | 1,722 | Denser: Nantes3.0 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Herblain+2.2 pts | 15.5% | 17.8% | More young people: Saint-Herblain+2.2 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Herblain+4.4 pts | 14.3% | 18.7% | More seniors: Saint-Herblain+4.4 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Herblain+0.21 | 1.83 | 2.04 | Larger households: Saint-Herblain+0.21 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Nantes+37% | 3,621 | 2,642 | More expensive: Nantes+37% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Nantes+31% | 4,398 | 3,350 | More expensive: Nantes+31% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Nantes+6% | 14.5 | 13.7 | More expensive: Nantes+6% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Nantes+9% | 14.4 | 13.1 | More expensive: Nantes+9% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Herblain+16 pts | 36.4% | 52.8% | More homeowners: Saint-Herblain+16 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Herblain+16 pts | 18.2% | 34.1% | More houses: Saint-Herblain+16 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Nantes+2.4 pts | 29.4% | 27.0% | More social housing: Nantes+2.4 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Nantes+3.1 pts | 4.9% | 1.9% | More second homes: Nantes+3.1 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Nantes+0.7 pt | 6.1% | 5.4% | More vacant homes: Nantes+0.7 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Nantes+7.0 pts | 53.37% | 46.35% | Higher rate: Nantes+7.0 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 | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Nantes+3% | 26,720 | 25,940 | Higher: Nantes+3% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Nantes+2.2 pts | 19.1% | 16.9% | Higher: Nantes+2.2 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Nantes+9% | €32,578 | €29,916 | Higher: Nantes+9% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saint-Herblain+0.8 pt | 50% | 51% | More taxpaying households: Saint-Herblain+0.8 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Herblain+3.6 pts | 74.8% | 78.4% | Higher: Saint-Herblain+3.6 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Nantes+2.2 pts | 13.1% | 10.9% | Higher: Nantes+2.2 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Johanna Rolland | Bertrand Affilé | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Herblain+2.8 pts | 95% | 98% | Better covered: Saint-Herblain+2.8 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Herblain+18% | 51.21,701 in total | 60.6313 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Herblain+18% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Nantes+57% | 17.3574 in total | 11.057 in total | More per capita: Nantes+57% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Nantes+17% | 35.81,190 in total | 30.6158 in total | More per capita: Nantes+17% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+48% | 14.8492 in total | 21.9113 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+48% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain2.8 times as high | 0.930 in total | 2.513 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain2.8 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+61% | 1.652 in total | 2.513 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+61% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Nantes+2 | 3 | 1 | More stations: Nantes+2 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Herblain+4% | 4.7 | 4.9 | Better access: Saint-Herblain+4% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Nantes+3% | 11.5384 in total | 11.258 in total | More per capita: Nantes+3% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+96% | 25.5849 in total | 50.1259 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+96% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+10% | 6.5216 in total | 7.237 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+10% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+11% | 2.481 in total | 2.714 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+11% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Nantes+27 | 33 | 6 | More facilities: Nantes+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
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Nantes+122 | 147 | 25 | More schools: Nantes+122 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Nantes+29 | 37 | 8 | More middle schools: Nantes+29 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Nantes+35 | 39 | 4 | More high schools: Nantes+35 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Nantes+91 | 102 | 11 | More facilities: Nantes+91 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Herblain+42% | 6.3 | 9.0 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+42% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Nantes+66% | 17.5 | 10.6 | Higher rate: Nantes+66% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Nantes+48% | 4.4 | 3.0 | Higher rate: Nantes+48% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+32% | 2.8 | 3.7 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+32% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+32% | 8.8 | 11.7 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+32% |
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
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Nantes+8 | 16 | 8 | More declarations: Nantes+8 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Nantes+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Nantes+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Significant | Significant | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Nantes2.2 times as high | 65.2 | 30.0 | Larger: Nantes2.2 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Herblain+8 m | 12 m | 20 m | Higher: Saint-Herblain+8 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Loire-Atlantique (44) | Loire-Atlantique (44) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Nantes Métropole | Nantes Métropole | Same |
| Urban unitSame | Nantes | Nantes | Same |
| Functional areaSame | Nantes | Nantes | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Nantes vs Saint-Herblain at a glance
| Criterion | Nantes | Saint-Herblain |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 332,515 | 51,681 |
| Change over 10 years | +12.0% | +16.4% |
| Density per km² | 5,101 | 1,722 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 3,621 | 2,642 |
| Median house price €/m² | 4,398 | 3,350 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 14.5 | 13.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 53.37% | 46.35% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 26,720 | 25,940 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 13.1% | 10.9% |
| Premises with fiber | 95% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 6.3 | 9.0 |
| Average temperature | 12.7°C | 12.7°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,873 | 1,873 |
| Area km² | 65.2 | 30.0 |
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FAQ
Nantes vs Saint-Herblain: your questions
Which is the larger city, Nantes or Saint-Herblain?
By population, Nantes: 332,515 inhabitants versus 51,681 for Saint-Herblain (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Nantes is the 6th largest city in France, Saint-Herblain the 131st. By area, Nantes is also the larger (65.2 km²).
How far is Nantes from Saint-Herblain?
Nantes and Saint-Herblain are 5.5 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Loire-Atlantique).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Nantes or Saint-Herblain?
To buy an apartment, Nantes is more expensive: €3,621 per m² (median price), versus €2,642 in Saint-Herblain (+37%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Nantes or Saint-Herblain?
In Nantes, half of the residents have a standard of living above €26,720 a year, versus €25,940 in Saint-Herblain (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Nantes and Saint-Herblain in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Loire-Atlantique (44), in the Pays de la Loire region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures