2026 comparison
Saint-Étienne vs Strasbourg: 2026 comparison
Strasbourg has more inhabitants than Saint-Étienne: 296,552 versus 174,698, or 70% more. Saint-Étienne covers a larger area (80.0 km² versus 78.3 km²), but Strasbourg is more densely populated: 3,789 inhabitants per km² versus 2,185.
The median standard of living is higher in Strasbourg (€21,980 a year versus €20,880).
The two cities are 434 km apart as the crow flies.
Saint-Étienne
City in Loire
- Population
- 174,698 inhab.
- 14th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 80.0 km²
- Density
- 2,185 per km²
Strasbourg
City in Bas-Rhin
- Population
- 296,552 inhab.
- 8th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 78.3 km²
- Density
- 3,789 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Saint-ÉtienneStrasbourg
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Strasbourg+70% | 174,698 | 296,552 | More populous: Strasbourg+70% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Strasbourg+3.2 pts | +0.0% | +3.2% | Stronger growth: Strasbourg+3.2 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Strasbourg+5.9 pts | +0.6% | +6.5% | Stronger growth: Strasbourg+5.9 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Strasbourg+73% | 2,185 | 3,789 | Denser: Strasbourg+73% |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Étienne+0.5 pt | 17.0% | 16.5% | More young people: Saint-Étienne+0.5 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Étienne+5.7 pts | 20.5% | 14.8% | More seniors: Saint-Étienne+5.7 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Strasbourg+0.05 | 1.95 | 2.00 | Larger households: Strasbourg+0.05 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,219 | not covered | |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,172 | not covered | |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Strasbourg+57% | 9.9 | 15.6 | More expensive: Strasbourg+57% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Strasbourg+74% | 9.1 | 15.7 | More expensive: Strasbourg+74% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Étienne+12 pts | 38.9% | 26.8% | More homeowners: Saint-Étienne+12 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Étienne+4.6 pts | 10.7% | 6.1% | More houses: Saint-Étienne+4.6 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Strasbourg+1.6 pt | 31.9% | 33.5% | More social housing: Strasbourg+1.6 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Strasbourg+2.5 pts | 2.4% | 4.9% | More second homes: Strasbourg+2.5 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+3.4 pts | 12.0% | 8.6% | More vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+3.4 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+6.0 pts | 48.28% | 42.25% | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+6.0 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-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Strasbourg+5% | 20,880 | 21,980 | Higher: Strasbourg+5% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Étienne+0.8 pt | 30.4% | 29.6% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.8 pt |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Strasbourg+25% | €23,469 | €29,242 | Higher: Strasbourg+25% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Strasbourg+5.7 pts | 37% | 42% | More taxpaying households: Strasbourg+5.7 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Strasbourg+0.7 pt | 68.3% | 69.0% | Higher: Strasbourg+0.7 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Étienne+3.5 pts | 19.0% | 15.5% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+3.5 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Régis Juanico | Catherine Trautmann | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Étienne+3.8 pts | 97% | 93% | Better covered: Saint-Étienne+3.8 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne+5% | 64.31,123 in total | 61.31,817 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne+5% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+12% | 21.9383 in total | 19.7583 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+12% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+35% | 37.4653 in total | 50.31,492 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+35% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+7% | 14.3250 in total | 13.3395 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+7% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+6% | 1.425 in total | 1.545 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+6% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg2.5 times as high | 1.120 in total | 2.986 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg2.5 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Saint-Étienne+3 | 5 | 2 | More stations: Saint-Étienne+3 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Strasbourg+71% | 3.8 | 6.5 | Better access: Strasbourg+71% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+69% | 9.2161 in total | 15.6463 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+69% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg2.3 times as high | 15.7275 in total | 35.81,062 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg2.3 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg2.7 times as high | 4.172 in total | 11.0327 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg2.7 times as high |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+9% | 2.950 in total | 2.678 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+9% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Strasbourg+15 | 9 | 24 | More facilities: Strasbourg+15 |
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-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Strasbourg+37 | 90 | 127 | More schools: Strasbourg+37 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Strasbourg+20 | 24 | 44 | More middle schools: Strasbourg+20 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Strasbourg+15 | 24 | 39 | More high schools: Strasbourg+15 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Strasbourg+60 | 39 | 99 | More facilities: Strasbourg+60 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Étienne2.3 times as high | 9.9 | 4.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne2.3 times as high |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Strasbourg+69% | 15.3 | 25.8 | Higher rate: Strasbourg+69% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Strasbourg+14% | 4.3 | 4.9 | Higher rate: Strasbourg+14% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne2.8 times as high | 2.8 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne2.8 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+34% | 15.2 | 11.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+34% |
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-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureTie | 11.4°C | 11.4°C | Tie |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Étienne+16% | 2,018 | 1,747 | Sunnier: Saint-Étienne+16% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Étienne+25% | 794 | 636 | Wetter: Saint-Étienne+25% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Strasbourg+8 days/year | 105 | 112 | More rainy days: Strasbourg+8 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearTie | 60 | 60 | Tie |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Étienne+2 days/year | 20 | 18 | More hot days: Saint-Étienne+2 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-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Étienne+4 | 21 | 17 | More declarations: Saint-Étienne+4 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saint-Étienne+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Saint-Étienne+1 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Étienne+2% | 80.0 | 78.3 | Larger: Saint-Étienne+2% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Étienne+373 m | 515 m | 141 m | Higher: Saint-Étienne+373 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Loire (42) | Bas-Rhin (67) | |
| Intercommunality | Saint-Etienne Métropole | Eurométropole de Strasbourg | |
| Urban unit | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg (partie française) | |
| Functional area | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg (partie française) |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Étienne vs Strasbourg at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Strasbourg |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 174,698 | 296,552 |
| Change over 10 years | +0.6% | +6.5% |
| Density per km² | 2,185 | 3,789 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,219 | not covered |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,172 | not covered |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 9.9 | 15.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.28% | 42.25% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,880 | 21,980 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.0% | 15.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 93% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 6.5 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.9 | 4.3 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 11.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,018 | 1,747 |
| Area km² | 80.0 | 78.3 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Saint-Étienne vs Strasbourg: your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Étienne or Strasbourg?
By population, Strasbourg: 296,552 inhabitants versus 174,698 for Saint-Étienne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Strasbourg is the 8th largest city in France, Saint-Étienne the 14th. By area, Saint-Étienne is the larger (80.0 km²).
How far is Saint-Étienne from Strasbourg?
Saint-Étienne and Strasbourg are 434 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Étienne or Strasbourg?
In Strasbourg, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,980 a year, versus €20,880 in Saint-Étienne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Saint-Étienne or Strasbourg?
Saint-Étienne: 2,018 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,747 in Strasbourg (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Are Saint-Étienne and Strasbourg in the same department?
No: Saint-Étienne is in Loire (42), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and Strasbourg in Bas-Rhin (67), in the Grand Est region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures