Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Paris vs Villeurbanne: 2026 comparison

Paris has more inhabitants than Villeurbanne: 2,119,412 versus 164,747, or 13 times as many. Paris is both larger (105 km² versus 14.5 km²) and more densely populated (20,108 inhabitants per km² versus 11,346).

The median apartment price is higher in Paris: €10,116 per m² versus €3,806. The median standard of living is higher in Paris (€33,650 a year versus €24,160).

The two cities are 393 km apart as the crow flies.

ParisVilleurbanne
ParisVilleurbanne393 km as the crow flies

Paris

City in Paris

Paris75Île-de-France

Population
2,119,412 inhab.
1st in France
Area
105 km²
Density
20,108 per km²
Full profile of Paris

Villeurbanne

City in Rhône

Rhône69Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Population
164,747 inhab.
17th in France · 2nd in its department
Area
14.5 km²
Density
11,346 per km²
Full profile of Villeurbanne

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

ParisVilleurbanne

Population: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Paris13 times as high2,119,412164,747More populous: Paris13 times as high
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+12 pts−3.3%+8.6%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+12 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+17 pts−5.6%+11.2%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+17 pts
Density per km²Denser: Paris+77%20,10811,346Denser: Paris+77%
Under 15More young people: Villeurbanne+3.7 pts12.8%16.4%More young people: Villeurbanne+3.7 pts
65 and overMore seniors: Paris+4.1 pts17.7%13.6%More seniors: Paris+4.1 pts
People per householdLarger households: Villeurbanne+0.111.841.95Larger households: Villeurbanne+0.11

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

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Paris2.7 times as high10,1163,806More expensive: Paris2.7 times as high
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Paris3.1 times as high13,9904,505More expensive: Paris3.1 times as high
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris2.1 times as high32.115.6More expensive: Paris2.1 times as high
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris+57%24.715.7More expensive: Paris+57%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Villeurbanne+1.4 pt33.2%34.6%More homeowners: Villeurbanne+1.4 pt
Share of housesMore houses: Villeurbanne+4.1 pts0.8%4.8%More houses: Villeurbanne+4.1 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Villeurbanne+7.8 pts23.2%31.0%More social housing: Villeurbanne+7.8 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Paris+6.4 pts9.9%3.5%More second homes: Paris+6.4 pts
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Paris+1.8 pt9.9%8.1%More vacant homes: Paris+1.8 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Villeurbanne+13 pts21.21%34.32%Higher rate: Villeurbanne+13 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

Income and jobs: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Paris+39%33,65024,160Higher: Paris+39%
Poverty rateHigher: Villeurbanne+6.3 pts16.8%23.1%Higher: Villeurbanne+6.3 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Paris2.2 times as high€58,947€26,493Higher: Paris2.2 times as high
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Paris+12 pts59%47%More taxpaying households: Paris+12 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Paris+5.5 pts78.8%73.3%Higher: Paris+5.5 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Villeurbanne+2.5 pts10.5%13.0%Higher: Villeurbanne+2.5 pts

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

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
MayorEmmanuel GrégoireCédric Van Styvendael
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Sameunion of the leftunion of the leftSame
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Paris+2.2 pts96%94%Better covered: Paris+2.2 pts

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

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Paris3.3 times as high126.026,708 in total37.6620 in totalMore shops per capita: Paris3.3 times as high
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.3 times as high36.97,824 in total16.1266 in totalMore per capita: Paris2.3 times as high
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.9 times as high98.720,911 in total34.3565 in totalMore per capita: Paris2.9 times as high
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Villeurbanne+29%7.71,632 in total10.0164 in totalMore per capita: Villeurbanne+29%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.4 times as high1.9402 in total0.813 in totalMore per capita: Paris2.4 times as high
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris22 times as high7.91,682 in total0.46 in totalMore per capita: Paris22 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Paris+34340More stations: Paris+34

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

Health

Health care

Health: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Paris+41%5.53.9Better access: Paris+41%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+49%12.82,722 in total8.6142 in totalMore per capita: Paris+49%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+12%33.17,007 in total29.6487 in totalMore per capita: Paris+12%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.2 times as high11.52,446 in total5.286 in totalMore per capita: Paris2.2 times as high
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+72%4.1864 in total2.439 in totalMore per capita: Paris+72%
HospitalsMore facilities: Paris+1181235More facilities: Paris+118

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: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Paris+77383360More schools: Paris+773
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Paris+21123019More middle schools: Paris+211
High schoolsMore high schools: Paris+23324310More high schools: Paris+233
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Paris+75277826More facilities: Paris+752

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

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Villeurbanne+13%5.15.7Higher rate: Villeurbanne+13%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris2.4 times as high45.118.5Higher rate: Paris2.4 times as high
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+38%5.33.8Higher rate: Paris+38%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+63%1.72.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne+63%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+65%9.014.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne+65%

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

Climate: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Paris+0.3 °C13.3°C13.0°CWarmer: Paris+0.3 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Villeurbanne+19%1,7172,050Sunnier: Villeurbanne+19%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Villeurbanne+23%667821Wetter: Villeurbanne+23%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Paris+9 days/year112103More rainy days: Paris+9 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Villeurbanne+20 days/year2242More frost days: Villeurbanne+20 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Villeurbanne+10 days/year2131More hot days: Villeurbanne+10 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Paris+82012More declarations: Paris+8
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Paris+231More plans: Paris+2
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Paris and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionParisVilleurbanneDifference
Area km²Larger: Paris7.3 times as high10514.5Larger: Paris7.3 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Villeurbanne+136 m34 m169 mHigher: Villeurbanne+136 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentParis (75)Rhône (69)
IntercommunalityMétropole du Grand ParisMétropole de Lyon
Urban unitParisLyon
Functional areaParisLyon

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

Summary

Paris vs Villeurbanne at a glance

Summary table: Paris and Villeurbanne
CriterionParisVilleurbanne
Population inhab.2,119,412164,747
Change over 10 years−5.6%+11.2%
Density per km²20,10811,346
Median apartment price €/m²10,1163,806
Median house price €/m²13,9904,505
Apartment rent €/m²32.115.6
Property tax (combined rate)21.21%34.32%
Median standard of living €/year33,65024,160
Unemployment rate (census)10.5%13.0%
Premises with fiber96%94%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year5.53.9
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes5.15.7
Average temperature13.3°C13.0°C
Sunshine h/year1,7172,050
Area km²10514.5

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Paris vs Villeurbanne: your questions

Which is the larger city, Paris or Villeurbanne?

By population, Paris: 2,119,412 inhabitants versus 164,747 for Villeurbanne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Paris is the 1st largest city in France, Villeurbanne the 17th. By area, Paris is also the larger (105 km²).

How far is Paris from Villeurbanne?

Paris and Villeurbanne are 393 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Paris or Villeurbanne?

To buy an apartment, Paris is more expensive: €10,116 per m² (median price), versus €3,806 in Villeurbanne (+166%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Paris or Villeurbanne?

In Paris, half of the residents have a standard of living above €33,650 a year, versus €24,160 in Villeurbanne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Paris or Villeurbanne?

Villeurbanne: 2,050 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

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