2026 comparison
Paris vs Saint-Denis (974): 2026 comparison
Paris has more inhabitants than Saint-Denis: 2,119,412 versus 157,142, or 13 times as many. Saint-Denis covers a larger area (143 km² versus 105 km²), but Paris is more densely populated: 20,108 inhabitants per km² versus 1,101.
The median apartment price is higher in Paris: €10,116 per m² versus €2,500. The median standard of living is higher in Paris (€33,650 a year versus €20,240).
The two cities are 9,371 km apart as the crow flies.
Paris
City in Paris
- Population
- 2,119,412 inhab.
- 1st in France
- Area
- 105 km²
- Density
- 20,108 per km²
Saint-Denis
City in Réunion
- Population
- 157,142 inhab.
- 20th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 143 km²
- Density
- 1,101 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
ParisSaint-Denis
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Paris13 times as high | 2,119,412 | 157,142 | More populous: Paris13 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+6.7 pts | −3.3% | +3.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+6.7 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+15 pts | −5.6% | +9.3% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+15 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Paris18 times as high | 20,108 | 1,101 | Denser: Paris18 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Denis+7.8 pts | 12.8% | 20.6% | More young people: Saint-Denis+7.8 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Paris+3.2 pts | 17.7% | 14.5% | More seniors: Paris+3.2 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Denis+0.39 | 1.84 | 2.23 | Larger households: Saint-Denis+0.39 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Paris4.0 times as high | 10,116 | 2,500 | More expensive: Paris4.0 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Paris4.4 times as high | 13,990 | 3,183 | More expensive: Paris4.4 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris2.1 times as high | 32.1 | 15.1 | More expensive: Paris2.1 times as high |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris+65% | 24.7 | 14.9 | More expensive: Paris+65% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Paris+1.7 pt | 33.2% | 31.5% | More homeowners: Paris+1.7 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Denis+33 pts | 0.8% | 34.0% | More houses: Saint-Denis+33 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Denis+16 pts | 23.2% | 38.9% | More social housing: Saint-Denis+16 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Paris+8.1 pts | 9.9% | 1.8% | More second homes: Paris+8.1 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Paris+1.2 pt | 9.9% | 8.8% | More vacant homes: Paris+1.2 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Denis+18 pts | 21.21% | 38.97% | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+18 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 | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Paris+66% | 33,650 | 20,240 | Higher: Paris+66% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Denis+18 pts | 16.8% | 35.0% | Higher: Saint-Denis+18 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Paris2.4 times as high | €58,947 | €24,973 | Higher: Paris2.4 times as high |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Paris+30 pts | 59% | 29% | More taxpaying households: Paris+30 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Paris+8.9 pts | 78.8% | 69.9% | Higher: Paris+8.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Denis+15 pts | 10.5% | 25.4% | Higher: Saint-Denis+15 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Emmanuel Grégoire | Ericka Bareigts | |
| 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-Denis+1.2 pt | 96% | 97% | Better covered: Saint-Denis+1.2 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Paris+93% | 126.026,708 in total | 65.21,025 in total | More shops per capita: Paris+93% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+74% | 36.97,824 in total | 21.3334 in total | More per capita: Paris+74% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.1 times as high | 98.720,911 in total | 47.3744 in total | More per capita: Paris2.1 times as high |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis2.4 times as high | 7.71,632 in total | 18.7294 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis2.4 times as high |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+35% | 1.9402 in total | 1.422 in total | More per capita: Paris+35% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris10 times as high | 7.91,682 in total | 0.812 in total | More per capita: Paris10 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Paris+34 | 34 | 0 | More stations: Paris+34 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Paris+14% | 5.5 | 4.8 | Better access: Paris+14% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+29% | 12.82,722 in total | 10.0157 in total | More per capita: Paris+29% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.4 times as high | 33.17,007 in total | 13.9219 in total | More per capita: Paris2.4 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+69% | 11.52,446 in total | 6.8107 in total | More per capita: Paris+69% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+42% | 4.1864 in total | 2.945 in total | More per capita: Paris+42% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Paris+113 | 123 | 10 | More facilities: Paris+113 |
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 | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Paris+748 | 833 | 85 | More schools: Paris+748 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Paris+210 | 230 | 20 | More middle schools: Paris+210 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Paris+229 | 243 | 14 | More high schools: Paris+229 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Paris+752 | 778 | 26 | More facilities: Paris+752 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Paris2.4 times as high | 5.1 | 2.1 | Higher rate: Paris2.4 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris9.7 times as high | 45.1 | 4.7 | Higher rate: Paris9.7 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+17% | 5.3 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Paris+17% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+72% | 1.7 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Paris+72% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+24% | 9.0 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Paris+24% |
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 | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Denis+11.2 °C | 13.3°C | 24.5°C | Warmer: Saint-Denis+11.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Denis+50% | 1,717 | 2,567 | Sunnier: Saint-Denis+50% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Denis2.3 times as high | 667 | 1,530 | Wetter: Saint-Denis2.3 times as high |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Denis+5 days/year | 112 | 117 | More rainy days: Saint-Denis+5 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Paris+22 days/year | 22 | 0 | More frost days: Paris+22 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Denis+54 days/year | 21 | 75 | More hot days: Saint-Denis+54 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 | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Denis+1 | 20 | 21 | More declarations: Saint-Denis+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Paris+2 | 3 | 1 | More plans: Paris+2 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Denis+35% | 105 | 143 | Larger: Saint-Denis+35% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Paris+18 m | 34 m | 15 m | Higher: Paris+18 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Paris (75) | Réunion (974) | |
| Intercommunality | Métropole du Grand Paris | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | |
| Urban unit | Paris | Saint-Denis | |
| Functional area | Paris | Saint-Denis |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Paris vs Saint-Denis (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Denis |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 2,119,412 | 157,142 |
| Change over 10 years | −5.6% | +9.3% |
| Density per km² | 20,108 | 1,101 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 10,116 | 2,500 |
| Median house price €/m² | 13,990 | 3,183 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 32.1 | 15.1 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 21.21% | 38.97% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 33,650 | 20,240 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 10.5% | 25.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.5 | 4.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 5.1 | 2.1 |
| Average temperature | 13.3°C | 24.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,717 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 105 | 143 |
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FAQ
Paris vs Saint-Denis (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Paris or Saint-Denis?
By population, Paris: 2,119,412 inhabitants versus 157,142 for Saint-Denis (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Paris is the 1st largest city in France, Saint-Denis the 20th. By area, Saint-Denis is the larger (143 km²).
How far is Paris from Saint-Denis?
Paris and Saint-Denis are 9,371 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Paris or Saint-Denis?
To buy an apartment, Paris is more expensive: €10,116 per m² (median price), versus €2,500 in Saint-Denis (+305%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Paris or Saint-Denis?
In Paris, half of the residents have a standard of living above €33,650 a year, versus €20,240 in Saint-Denis (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Paris or Saint-Denis?
Saint-Denis: 2,567 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,717 in Paris (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