2026 comparison
Saint-Denis (974) vs Sainte-Marie (974): 2026 comparison
Saint-Denis has more inhabitants than Sainte-Marie: 157,142 versus 37,527, or 4.2 times as many. Saint-Denis is both larger (143 km² versus 87.2 km²) and more densely populated (1,101 inhabitants per km² versus 430).
The median apartment price is higher in Saint-Denis: €2,500 per m² versus €2,409. The median standard of living is higher in Sainte-Marie (€21,270 a year versus €20,240).
The two cities are 8.2 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Saint-Denis).
Saint-Denis
City in Réunion
- Population
- 157,142 inhab.
- 20th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 143 km²
- Density
- 1,101 per km²
Sainte-Marie
City in Réunion
- Population
- 37,527 inhab.
- 218th in France · 9th in its department
- Area
- 87.2 km²
- Density
- 430 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
Saint-DenisSainte-Marie
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Denis4.2 times as high | 157,142 | 37,527 | More populous: Saint-Denis4.2 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Sainte-Marie+8.2 pts | +3.4% | +11.6% | Stronger growth: Sainte-Marie+8.2 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Sainte-Marie+4.5 pts | +9.3% | +13.8% | Stronger growth: Sainte-Marie+4.5 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-Denis2.6 times as high | 1,101 | 430 | Denser: Saint-Denis2.6 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Sainte-Marie+2.4 pts | 20.6% | 22.9% | More young people: Sainte-Marie+2.4 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Denis+3.0 pts | 14.5% | 11.5% | More seniors: Saint-Denis+3.0 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Sainte-Marie+0.34 | 2.23 | 2.57 | Larger households: Sainte-Marie+0.34 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Denis+4% | 2,500 | 2,409 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+4% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Denis+11% | 3,183 | 2,875 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+11% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Denis+12% | 15.1 | 13.5 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+12% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Denis+3% | 14.9 | 14.4 | More expensive: Saint-Denis+3% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Sainte-Marie+19 pts | 31.5% | 50.7% | More homeowners: Sainte-Marie+19 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Sainte-Marie+31 pts | 34.0% | 64.7% | More houses: Sainte-Marie+31 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Denis+9.0 pts | 38.9% | 29.9% | More social housing: Saint-Denis+9.0 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Denis+0.2 pt | 1.8% | 1.6% | More second homes: Saint-Denis+0.2 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Denis+2.3 pts | 8.8% | 6.5% | More vacant homes: Saint-Denis+2.3 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+7.2 pts | 38.97% | 46.14% | Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+7.2 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 | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Sainte-Marie+5% | 20,240 | 21,270 | Higher: Sainte-Marie+5% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Denis+4.4 pts | 35.0% | 30.6% | Higher: Saint-Denis+4.4 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Sainte-Marie+0.7% | €24,973 | €25,138 | Higher: Sainte-Marie+0.7% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saint-Denis+0.3 pt | 29% | 28% | More taxpaying households: Saint-Denis+0.3 pt |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Sainte-Marie+3.9 pts | 69.9% | 73.8% | Higher: Sainte-Marie+3.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Denis+3.2 pts | 25.4% | 22.2% | Higher: Saint-Denis+3.2 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Ericka Bareigts | Céline Sitouze | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Denis+1.2 pt | 97% | 96% | Better covered: Saint-Denis+1.2 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Denis+12% | 65.21,025 in total | 58.1218 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Denis+12% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Sainte-Marie+3% | 21.3334 in total | 21.982 in total | More per capita: Sainte-Marie+3% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+13% | 47.3744 in total | 41.8157 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+13% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Sainte-Marie+15% | 18.7294 in total | 21.681 in total | More per capita: Sainte-Marie+15% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+75% | 1.422 in total | 0.83 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+75% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+0.8 | 0.812 in total | 0.00 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+0.8 |
| 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 | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityTie | 4.8 | 4.8 | Tie |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis+39% | 10.0157 in total | 7.227 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis+39% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis52 times as high | 13.9219 in total | 0.31 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis52 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Denis2.1 times as high | 6.8107 in total | 3.212 in total | More per capita: Saint-Denis2.1 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 2.945 in total | 2.911 in total | Tie |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Denis+9 | 10 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-Denis+9 |
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 | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Denis+64 | 85 | 21 | More schools: Saint-Denis+64 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Denis+15 | 20 | 5 | More middle schools: Saint-Denis+15 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Denis+11 | 14 | 3 | More high schools: Saint-Denis+11 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Denis+26 | 26 | 0 | More facilities: Saint-Denis+26 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Sainte-Marie+8% | 2.1 | 2.3 | Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+8% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+5% | 4.7 | 4.9 | Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+5% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+7% | 4.5 | 4.2 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+7% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+52% | 1.0 | 1.5 | Higher rate: Sainte-Marie+52% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Denis+14% | 7.2 | 6.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Denis+14% |
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 | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureTie | 24.5°C | 24.5°C | Tie |
| Sunshine h/yearTie | 2,567 | 2,567 | Tie |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Sainte-Marie+2% | 1,530 | 1,554 | Wetter: Sainte-Marie+2% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Sainte-Marie+10 days/year | 117 | 127 | More rainy days: Sainte-Marie+10 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Sainte-Marie+16 days/year | 75 | 91 | More hot days: Sainte-Marie+16 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 | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Sainte-Marie+1 | 21 | 22 | More declarations: Sainte-Marie+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Sainte-Marie+1 | 1 | 2 | More plans: Sainte-Marie+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Denis+64% | 143 | 87.2 | Larger: Saint-Denis+64% |
| 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 | Small town | |
| DepartmentSame | Réunion (974) | Réunion (974) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | Communauté d'agglomération Intercommunale du Nord de la Réunion (CINOR) | Same |
| Urban unitSame | Saint-Denis | Saint-Denis | Same |
| Functional areaSame | Saint-Denis | Saint-Denis | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Denis (974) vs Sainte-Marie (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Denis | Sainte-Marie |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 157,142 | 37,527 |
| Change over 10 years | +9.3% | +13.8% |
| Density per km² | 1,101 | 430 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,500 | 2,409 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,183 | 2,875 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.1 | 13.5 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 38.97% | 46.14% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,240 | 21,270 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 25.4% | 22.2% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 96% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Average temperature | 24.5°C | 24.5°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,567 | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 143 | 87.2 |
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Compare with other towns
FAQ
Saint-Denis (974) vs Sainte-Marie (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Denis or Sainte-Marie?
By population, Saint-Denis: 157,142 inhabitants versus 37,527 for Sainte-Marie (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Denis is the 20th largest city in France, Sainte-Marie the 218th. By area, Saint-Denis is also the larger (143 km²).
How far is Saint-Denis from Sainte-Marie?
Saint-Denis and Sainte-Marie are 8.2 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 Sainte-Marie?
To buy an apartment, Saint-Denis is more expensive: €2,500 per m² (median price), versus €2,409 in Sainte-Marie (+4%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Denis or Sainte-Marie?
In Sainte-Marie, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,270 a year, versus €20,240 in Saint-Denis (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Saint-Denis and Sainte-Marie 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