2026 comparison
Paris vs Saint-Étienne: 2026 comparison
Paris has more inhabitants than Saint-Étienne: 2,119,412 versus 174,698, or 12 times as many. Paris is both larger (105 km² versus 80.0 km²) and more densely populated (20,108 inhabitants per km² versus 2,185).
The median apartment price is higher in Paris: €10,116 per m² versus €1,219. The median standard of living is higher in Paris (€33,650 a year versus €20,880).
The two cities are 411 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-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
ParisSaint-Étienne
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Paris12 times as high | 2,119,412 | 174,698 | More populous: Paris12 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Étienne+3.3 pts | −3.3% | +0.0% | Stronger growth: Saint-Étienne+3.3 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Étienne+6.3 pts | −5.6% | +0.6% | Stronger growth: Saint-Étienne+6.3 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Paris9.2 times as high | 20,108 | 2,185 | Denser: Paris9.2 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Étienne+4.3 pts | 12.8% | 17.0% | More young people: Saint-Étienne+4.3 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Étienne+2.8 pts | 17.7% | 20.5% | More seniors: Saint-Étienne+2.8 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Étienne+0.11 | 1.84 | 1.95 | Larger households: Saint-Étienne+0.11 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Paris8.3 times as high | 10,116 | 1,219 | More expensive: Paris8.3 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Paris6.4 times as high | 13,990 | 2,172 | More expensive: Paris6.4 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris3.3 times as high | 32.1 | 9.9 | More expensive: Paris3.3 times as high |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris2.7 times as high | 24.7 | 9.1 | More expensive: Paris2.7 times as high |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Étienne+5.6 pts | 33.2% | 38.9% | More homeowners: Saint-Étienne+5.6 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Étienne+9.9 pts | 0.8% | 10.7% | More houses: Saint-Étienne+9.9 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Étienne+8.7 pts | 23.2% | 31.9% | More social housing: Saint-Étienne+8.7 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Paris+7.5 pts | 9.9% | 2.4% | More second homes: Paris+7.5 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+2.1 pts | 9.9% | 12.0% | More vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+2.1 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+27 pts | 21.21% | 48.28% | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+27 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-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Paris+61% | 33,650 | 20,880 | Higher: Paris+61% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Étienne+14 pts | 16.8% | 30.4% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+14 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Paris2.5 times as high | €58,947 | €23,469 | Higher: Paris2.5 times as high |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Paris+22 pts | 59% | 37% | More taxpaying households: Paris+22 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Paris+10 pts | 78.8% | 68.3% | Higher: Paris+10 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Étienne+8.5 pts | 10.5% | 19.0% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+8.5 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Emmanuel Grégoire | 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+0.7 pt | 96% | 97% | Better covered: Saint-Étienne+0.7 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-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Paris+96% | 126.026,708 in total | 64.31,123 in total | More shops per capita: Paris+96% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+68% | 36.97,824 in total | 21.9383 in total | More per capita: Paris+68% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.6 times as high | 98.720,911 in total | 37.4653 in total | More per capita: Paris2.6 times as high |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+86% | 7.71,632 in total | 14.3250 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+86% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+33% | 1.9402 in total | 1.425 in total | More per capita: Paris+33% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris6.9 times as high | 7.91,682 in total | 1.120 in total | More per capita: Paris6.9 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Paris+29 | 34 | 5 | More stations: Paris+29 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Paris+44% | 5.5 | 3.8 | Better access: Paris+44% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+39% | 12.82,722 in total | 9.2161 in total | More per capita: Paris+39% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.1 times as high | 33.17,007 in total | 15.7275 in total | More per capita: Paris2.1 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.8 times as high | 11.52,446 in total | 4.172 in total | More per capita: Paris2.8 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+42% | 4.1864 in total | 2.950 in total | More per capita: Paris+42% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Paris+114 | 123 | 9 | More facilities: Paris+114 |
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-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Paris+743 | 833 | 90 | More schools: Paris+743 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Paris+206 | 230 | 24 | More middle schools: Paris+206 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Paris+219 | 243 | 24 | More high schools: Paris+219 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Paris+739 | 778 | 39 | More facilities: Paris+739 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Étienne+97% | 5.1 | 9.9 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+97% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris3.0 times as high | 45.1 | 15.3 | Higher rate: Paris3.0 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+22% | 5.3 | 4.3 | Higher rate: Paris+22% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+61% | 1.7 | 2.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+61% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+69% | 9.0 | 15.2 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+69% |
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-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Paris+1.9 °C | 13.3°C | 11.4°C | Warmer: Paris+1.9 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Étienne+18% | 1,717 | 2,018 | Sunnier: Saint-Étienne+18% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Étienne+19% | 667 | 794 | Wetter: Saint-Étienne+19% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Paris+7 days/year | 112 | 105 | More rainy days: Paris+7 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saint-Étienne+37 days/year | 22 | 60 | More frost days: Saint-Étienne+37 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Paris+0 days/year | 21 | 20 | More hot days: Paris+0 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-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Étienne+1 | 20 | 21 | More declarations: Saint-Étienne+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Paris+1 | 3 | 2 | More plans: Paris+1 |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Paris+32% | 105 | 80.0 | Larger: Paris+32% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Étienne+481 m | 34 m | 515 m | Higher: Saint-Étienne+481 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Paris (75) | Loire (42) | |
| Intercommunality | Métropole du Grand Paris | Saint-Etienne Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Paris | Saint-Étienne | |
| Functional area | Paris | Saint-Étienne |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Paris vs Saint-Étienne at a glance
| Criterion | Paris | Saint-Étienne |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 2,119,412 | 174,698 |
| Change over 10 years | −5.6% | +0.6% |
| Density per km² | 20,108 | 2,185 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 10,116 | 1,219 |
| Median house price €/m² | 13,990 | 2,172 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 32.1 | 9.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 21.21% | 48.28% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 33,650 | 20,880 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 10.5% | 19.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.5 | 3.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 5.1 | 9.9 |
| Average temperature | 13.3°C | 11.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,717 | 2,018 |
| Area km² | 105 | 80.0 |
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FAQ
Paris vs Saint-Étienne: your questions
Which is the larger city, Paris or Saint-Étienne?
By population, Paris: 2,119,412 inhabitants versus 174,698 for Saint-Étienne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Paris is the 1st largest city in France, Saint-Étienne the 14th. By area, Paris is also the larger (105 km²).
How far is Paris from Saint-Étienne?
Paris and Saint-Étienne are 411 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Paris or Saint-Étienne?
To buy an apartment, Paris is more expensive: €10,116 per m² (median price), versus €1,219 in Saint-Étienne (+730%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Paris or Saint-Étienne?
In Paris, half of the residents have a standard of living above €33,650 a year, versus €20,880 in Saint-Étienne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Paris or Saint-Étienne?
Saint-Étienne: 2,018 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