2026 comparison
Roubaix vs Wattrelos: 2026 comparison
Roubaix has more inhabitants than Wattrelos: 98,701 versus 41,013, or 2.4 times as many. Wattrelos covers a larger area (13.4 km² versus 13.2 km²), but Roubaix is more densely populated: 7,460 inhabitants per km² versus 3,052.
The median apartment price is higher in Roubaix: €2,106 per m² versus €2,078. The median standard of living is higher in Wattrelos (€21,660 a year versus €16,080).
The two cities are 3.5 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Lille (partie française)).
© Mairie de roubaix, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Roubaix
City in Nord
- Population
- 98,701 inhab.
- 44th in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 13.2 km²
- Density
- 7,460 per km²
Wattrelos
City in Nord
- Population
- 41,013 inhab.
- 196th in France · 8th in its department
- Area
- 13.4 km²
- Density
- 3,052 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
RoubaixWattrelos
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Roubaix2.4 times as high | 98,701 | 41,013 | More populous: Roubaix2.4 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Roubaix+0.3 pt | +0.2% | −0.1% | Stronger growth: Roubaix+0.3 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Roubaix+4.2 pts | +2.5% | −1.6% | Stronger growth: Roubaix+4.2 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Roubaix2.4 times as high | 7,460 | 3,052 | Denser: Roubaix2.4 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Roubaix+3.8 pts | 24.1% | 20.3% | More young people: Roubaix+3.8 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Wattrelos+4.5 pts | 12.2% | 16.7% | More seniors: Wattrelos+4.5 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Roubaix+0.07 | 2.47 | 2.40 | Larger households: Roubaix+0.07 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Roubaix+1% | 2,106 | 2,078 | More expensive: Roubaix+1% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Wattrelos+39% | 1,412 | 1,957 | More expensive: Wattrelos+39% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Wattrelos+6% | 13.3 | 14.0 | More expensive: Wattrelos+6% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Wattrelos+8% | 9.5 | 10.3 | More expensive: Wattrelos+8% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Wattrelos+23 pts | 33.5% | 56.8% | More homeowners: Wattrelos+23 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Wattrelos+32 pts | 41.5% | 73.6% | More houses: Wattrelos+32 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Roubaix+0.4 pt | 0.7% | 0.3% | More second homes: Roubaix+0.4 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Roubaix+5.6 pts | 9.5% | 3.9% | More vacant homes: Roubaix+5.6 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Wattrelos+16 pts | 51.97% | 67.76% | Higher rate: Wattrelos+16 pts |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Wattrelos+35% | 16,080 | 21,660 | Higher: Wattrelos+35% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Roubaix+24 pts | 47.4% | 23.8% | Higher: Roubaix+24 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Wattrelos+32% | €17,788 | €23,424 | Higher: Wattrelos+32% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Wattrelos+12 pts | 23% | 35% | More taxpaying households: Wattrelos+12 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Wattrelos+12 pts | 61.5% | 73.0% | Higher: Wattrelos+12 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Roubaix+9.8 pts | 25.2% | 15.5% | Higher: Roubaix+9.8 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | David Guiraud | Dominique Baert | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | La France insoumise | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Wattrelos+3.9 pts | 94% | 98% | Better covered: Wattrelos+3.9 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Roubaix2.3 times as high | 63.4626 in total | 27.1111 in total | More shops per capita: Roubaix2.3 times as high |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix2.4 times as high | 25.8255 in total | 11.045 in total | More per capita: Roubaix2.4 times as high |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix2.5 times as high | 44.1435 in total | 17.371 in total | More per capita: Roubaix2.5 times as high |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+9% | 13.3131 in total | 12.250 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+9% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+8% | 1.313 in total | 1.25 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+8% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+0.4 | 0.44 in total | 0.00 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+0.4 |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Roubaix+1 | 1 | 0 | More stations: Roubaix+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Roubaix+21% | 5.2 | 4.3 | Better access: Roubaix+21% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix+39% | 10.8107 in total | 7.832 in total | More per capita: Roubaix+39% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix2.4 times as high | 8.180 in total | 3.414 in total | More per capita: Roubaix2.4 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Roubaix2.0 times as high | 5.453 in total | 2.711 in total | More per capita: Roubaix2.0 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Wattrelos+16% | 2.929 in total | 3.414 in total | More per capita: Wattrelos+16% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Roubaix+12 | 13 | 1 | More facilities: Roubaix+12 |
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 | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Roubaix+36 | 59 | 23 | More schools: Roubaix+36 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Roubaix+12 | 17 | 5 | More middle schools: Roubaix+12 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Roubaix+11 | 13 | 2 | More high schools: Roubaix+11 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Roubaix+14 | 14 | 0 | More facilities: Roubaix+14 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Roubaix+30% | 8.3 | 6.4 | Higher rate: Roubaix+30% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix3.2 times as high | 11.6 | 3.6 | Higher rate: Roubaix3.2 times as high |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix2.3 times as high | 6.7 | 3.0 | Higher rate: Roubaix2.3 times as high |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Wattrelos+97% | 3.7 | 7.3 | Higher rate: Wattrelos+97% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Roubaix+39% | 13.8 | 9.9 | Higher rate: Roubaix+39% |
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 | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Roubaix+1 | 16 | 15 | More declarations: Roubaix+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Wattrelos+2% | 13.2 | 13.4 | Larger: Wattrelos+2% |
| Town hall elevationTie | 30 m | 30 m | Tie |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Nord (59) | Nord (59) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Métropole Européenne de Lille | Métropole Européenne de Lille | Same |
| Urban unitSame | Lille (partie française) | Lille (partie française) | Same |
| Functional areaSame | Lille (partie française) | Lille (partie française) | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Roubaix vs Wattrelos at a glance
| Criterion | Roubaix | Wattrelos |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 98,701 | 41,013 |
| Change over 10 years | +2.5% | −1.6% |
| Density per km² | 7,460 | 3,052 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,106 | 2,078 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,412 | 1,957 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.3 | 14.0 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 51.97% | 67.76% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 16,080 | 21,660 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 25.2% | 15.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 94% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.2 | 4.3 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 8.3 | 6.4 |
| Average temperature | 11.3°C | 11.3°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,627 | 1,627 |
| Area km² | 13.2 | 13.4 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Roubaix vs Wattrelos: your questions
Which is the larger city, Roubaix or Wattrelos?
By population, Roubaix: 98,701 inhabitants versus 41,013 for Wattrelos (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Roubaix is the 44th largest city in France, Wattrelos the 196th. By area, Wattrelos is the larger (13.4 km²).
How far is Roubaix from Wattrelos?
Roubaix and Wattrelos are 3.5 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Nord).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Roubaix or Wattrelos?
To buy an apartment, Roubaix is more expensive: €2,106 per m² (median price), versus €2,078 in Wattrelos (+1%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Roubaix or Wattrelos?
In Wattrelos, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,660 a year, versus €16,080 in Roubaix (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Roubaix and Wattrelos in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Nord (59), in the Hauts-de-France region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures