2026 comparison
Saint-Denis (974) vs Saint-Paul (974): 2026 comparison
Saint-Denis has more inhabitants than Saint-Paul: 157,142 versus 109,405, or 44% more. Saint-Paul covers a larger area (241 km² versus 143 km²), but Saint-Denis is more densely populated: 1,101 inhabitants per km² versus 453.
The median apartment price is higher in Saint-Paul: €4,809 per m² versus €2,500. The median standard of living is higher in Saint-Paul (€21,220 a year versus €20,240).
The two cities are 15 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Saint-Denis
City in Réunion
- Population
- 157,142 inhab.
- 20th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 143 km²
- Density
- 1,101 per km²
Saint-Paul
City in Réunion
- Population
- 109,405 inhab.
- 39th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 241 km²
- Density
- 453 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
Saint-DenisSaint-Paul
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Denis+44% | 157,142 | 109,405 | More populous: Saint-Denis+44% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Paul+1.1 pt | +3.4% | +4.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Paul+1.1 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Denis+5.7 pts | +9.3% | +3.6% | Stronger growth: Saint-Denis+5.7 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-Denis2.4 times as high | 1,101 | 453 | Denser: Saint-Denis2.4 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Denis+0.9 pt | 20.6% | 19.6% | More young people: Saint-Denis+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Paul+0.1 pt | 14.5% | 14.7% | More seniors: Saint-Paul+0.1 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Paul+0.28 | 2.23 | 2.51 | Larger households: Saint-Paul+0.28 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Paul+92% | 2,500 | 4,809 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+92% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Paul+22% | 3,183 | 3,891 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+22% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Paul+25% | 15.1 | 18.9 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+25% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Paul+4% | 14.9 | 15.6 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+4% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Paul+30 pts | 31.5% | 61.0% | More homeowners: Saint-Paul+30 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Paul+38 pts | 34.0% | 71.8% | More houses: Saint-Paul+38 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Denis+21 pts | 38.9% | 18.3% | More social housing: Saint-Denis+21 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Paul+5.5 pts | 1.8% | 7.3% | More second homes: Saint-Paul+5.5 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Paul+0.7 pt | 8.8% | 9.4% | More vacant homes: Saint-Paul+0.7 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Paul+4.3 pts | 38.97% | 43.28% | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+4.3 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 | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Saint-Paul+5% | 20,240 | 21,220 | Higher: Saint-Paul+5% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Denis+4.6 pts | 35.0% | 30.4% | Higher: Saint-Denis+4.6 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Saint-Paul+4% | €24,973 | €25,928 | Higher: Saint-Paul+4% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saint-Denis+0.6 pt | 29% | 28% | More taxpaying households: Saint-Denis+0.6 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Paul+0.3 pt | 69.9% | 70.2% | Higher: Saint-Paul+0.3 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Denis+1.5 pt | 25.4% | 23.9% | Higher: Saint-Denis+1.5 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Ericka Bareigts | Emmanuel Séraphin | |
| 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+2.0 pts | 97% | 95% | Better covered: Saint-Denis+2.0 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Paul+6% | 65.21,025 in total | 69.3758 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Paul+6% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+18% | 21.3334 in total | 25.0274 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+18% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+14% | 47.3744 in total | 53.7588 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+14% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+31% | 18.7294 in total | 24.6269 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+31% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+28% | 1.422 in total | 1.112 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+28% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul4.4 times as high | 0.812 in total | 3.437 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul4.4 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Paul+40% | 4.8 | 6.8 | Better access: Saint-Paul+40% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+28% | 10.0157 in total | 12.8140 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+28% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+19% | 13.9219 in total | 16.6182 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+19% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+42% | 6.8107 in total | 9.7106 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+42% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+4% | 2.945 in total | 2.730 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+4% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Denis+4 | 10 | 6 | More facilities: Saint-Denis+4 |
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 | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Denis+16 | 85 | 69 | More schools: Saint-Denis+16 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Denis+5 | 20 | 15 | More middle schools: Saint-Denis+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Denis+5 | 14 | 9 | More high schools: Saint-Denis+5 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Denis+25 | 26 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-Denis+25 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Denis+28% | 2.1 | 1.6 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+28% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Paul+43% | 4.7 | 6.7 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+43% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+3% | 4.5 | 4.4 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+3% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Paul+80% | 1.0 | 1.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+80% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+12% | 7.2 | 6.5 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+12% |
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 | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Denis+0.1 °C | 24.5°C | 24.4°C | Warmer: Saint-Denis+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearTie | 2,567 | 2,567 | Tie |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Denis2.6 times as high | 1,530 | 598 | Wetter: Saint-Denis2.6 times as high |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Denis+69 days/year | 117 | 48 | More rainy days: Saint-Denis+69 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Paul+74 days/year | 75 | 149 | More hot days: Saint-Paul+74 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 | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Paul+3 | 21 | 24 | More declarations: Saint-Paul+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saint-Paul+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Saint-Paul+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Paul+69% | 143 | 241 | Larger: Saint-Paul+69% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Denis+10 m | 15 m | 5 m | Higher: Saint-Denis+10 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | |
| DepartmentSame | Réunion (974) | Réunion (974) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | Communauté d'agglomération Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) | |
| Urban unit | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul | |
| Functional area | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Denis (974) vs Saint-Paul (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Saint-Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 157,142 | 109,405 |
| Change over 10 years | +9.3% | +3.6% |
| Density per km² | 1,101 | 453 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,500 | 4,809 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,183 | 3,891 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.1 | 18.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 38.97% | 43.28% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,240 | 21,220 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 25.4% | 23.9% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.8 | 6.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Average temperature | 24.5°C | 24.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,567 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 143 | 241 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Saint-Denis (974) vs Saint-Paul (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Denis or Saint-Paul?
By population, Saint-Denis: 157,142 inhabitants versus 109,405 for Saint-Paul (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Denis is the 20th largest city in France, Saint-Paul the 39th. By area, Saint-Paul is the larger (241 km²).
How far is Saint-Denis from Saint-Paul?
Saint-Denis and Saint-Paul are 15 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Réunion).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Saint-Denis or Saint-Paul?
To buy an apartment, Saint-Paul is more expensive: €4,809 per m² (median price), versus €2,500 in Saint-Denis (+92%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Denis or Saint-Paul?
In Saint-Paul, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,220 a year, versus €20,240 in Saint-Denis (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Saint-Denis and Saint-Paul in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Réunion (974), in the Réunion region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures