2026 comparison
Reims vs Saint-Denis (974): 2026 comparison
Reims has more inhabitants than Saint-Denis: 180,733 versus 157,142, or 15% more. Saint-Denis covers a larger area (143 km² versus 46.9 km²), but Reims is more densely populated: 3,854 inhabitants per km² versus 1,101.
The median apartment price is higher in Reims: €2,753 per m² versus €2,500. The median standard of living is higher in Reims (€22,410 a year versus €20,240).
The two cities are 9,308 km apart as the crow flies.
Reims
City in Marne
- Population
- 180,733 inhab.
- 13th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 46.9 km²
- Density
- 3,854 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
ReimsSaint-Denis
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Reims+15% | 180,733 | 157,142 | More populous: Reims+15% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+5.9 pts | −2.5% | +3.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+5.9 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+12 pts | −2.7% | +9.3% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+12 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Reims3.5 times as high | 3,854 | 1,101 | Denser: Reims3.5 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Denis+4.8 pts | 15.7% | 20.6% | More young people: Saint-Denis+4.8 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Reims+2.8 pts | 17.4% | 14.5% | More seniors: Reims+2.8 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Denis+0.37 | 1.86 | 2.23 | Larger households: Saint-Denis+0.37 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Reims+10% | 2,753 | 2,500 | More expensive: Reims+10% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Denis+18% | 2,692 | 3,183 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+18% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Denis+15% | 13.1 | 15.1 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+15% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Denis+27% | 11.8 | 14.9 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+27% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Denis+3.5 pts | 28.0% | 31.5% | More homeowners: Saint-Denis+3.5 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Denis+15 pts | 19.1% | 34.0% | More houses: Saint-Denis+15 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Reims+8.5 pts | 47.4% | 38.9% | More social housing: Reims+8.5 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Reims+2.0 pt | 3.8% | 1.8% | More second homes: Reims+2.0 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Reims+1.2 pt | 10.0% | 8.8% | More vacant homes: Reims+1.2 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Reims+7.4 pts | 46.33% | 38.97% | Higher rate: Reims+7.4 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 | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Reims+11% | 22,410 | 20,240 | Higher: Reims+11% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Denis+9.3 pts | 25.7% | 35.0% | Higher: Saint-Denis+9.3 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Reims+9% | €27,322 | €24,973 | Higher: Reims+9% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Reims+14 pts | 42% | 29% | More taxpaying households: Reims+14 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Reims+0.6 pt | 70.4% | 69.9% | Higher: Reims+0.6 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Denis+8.9 pts | 16.5% | 25.4% | Higher: Saint-Denis+8.9 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Arnaud Robinet | Ericka Bareigts | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous right | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Reims+0.9 pt | 98% | 97% | Better covered: Reims+0.9 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Denis+20% | 54.3982 in total | 65.21,025 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Denis+20% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+10% | 19.3348 in total | 21.3334 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+10% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+45% | 32.7591 in total | 47.3744 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+45% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+40% | 26.3475 in total | 18.7294 in total | More per capita: Reims+40% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+7% | 1.527 in total | 1.422 in total | More per capita: Reims+7% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims3.2 times as high | 2.444 in total | 0.812 in total | More per capita: Reims3.2 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Reims+3 | 3 | 0 | More stations: Reims+3 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Reims+3% | 5.0 | 4.8 | Better access: Reims+3% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 10.0180 in total | 10.0157 in total | Tie |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+37% | 19.1346 in total | 13.9219 in total | More per capita: Reims+37% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+12% | 7.6138 in total | 6.8107 in total | More per capita: Reims+12% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Reims+20% | 3.462 in total | 2.945 in total | More per capita: Reims+20% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Reims+8 | 18 | 10 | More facilities: Reims+8 |
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 | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Reims+21 | 106 | 85 | More schools: Reims+21 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Reims+2 | 22 | 20 | More middle schools: Reims+2 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Reims+10 | 24 | 14 | More high schools: Reims+10 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Reims+15 | 41 | 26 | More facilities: Reims+15 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Reims2.0 times as high | 4.2 | 2.1 | Higher rate: Reims2.0 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Reims2.8 times as high | 12.9 | 4.7 | Higher rate: Reims2.8 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Reims+29% | 5.8 | 4.5 | Higher rate: Reims+29% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Reims3.5 times as high | 3.6 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Reims3.5 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Reims+97% | 14.3 | 7.2 | Higher rate: Reims+97% |
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 | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Denis+13.3 °C | 11.2°C | 24.5°C | Warmer: Saint-Denis+13.3 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,567 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Denis2.0 times as high | 756 | 1,530 | Wetter: Saint-Denis2.0 times as high |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Reims+3 days/year | 120 | 117 | More rainy days: Reims+3 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Reims+45 days/year | 45 | 0 | More frost days: Reims+45 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Denis+65 days/year | 9 | 75 | More hot days: Saint-Denis+65 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 | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Denis+4 | 17 | 21 | More declarations: Saint-Denis+4 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Denis3.0 times as high | 46.9 | 143 | Larger: Saint-Denis3.0 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Reims+71 m | 86 m | 15 m | Higher: Reims+71 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Marne (51) | Réunion (974) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | |
| Urban unit | Reims | Saint-Denis | |
| Functional area | Reims | Saint-Denis |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Reims vs Saint-Denis (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Reims | Saint-Denis |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 180,733 | 157,142 |
| Change over 10 years | −2.7% | +9.3% |
| Density per km² | 3,854 | 1,101 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,753 | 2,500 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,692 | 3,183 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.1 | 15.1 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 46.33% | 38.97% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,410 | 20,240 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 16.5% | 25.4% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.2 | 2.1 |
| Average temperature | 11.2°C | 24.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 46.9 | 143 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Reims vs Saint-Denis (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Reims or Saint-Denis?
By population, Reims: 180,733 inhabitants versus 157,142 for Saint-Denis (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Reims is the 13th largest city in France, Saint-Denis the 20th. By area, Saint-Denis is the larger (143 km²).
How far is Reims from Saint-Denis?
Reims and Saint-Denis are 9,308 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Reims or Saint-Denis?
To buy an apartment, Reims is more expensive: €2,753 per m² (median price), versus €2,500 in Saint-Denis (+10%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Reims or Saint-Denis?
In Reims, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,410 a year, versus €20,240 in Saint-Denis (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Reims and Saint-Denis in the same department?
No: Reims is in Marne (51), in the Grand Est region, and Saint-Denis in Réunion (974), in the Réunion region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures