2026 comparison
Saint-Étienne vs Toulon: 2026 comparison
Toulon has more inhabitants than Saint-Étienne: 180,774 versus 174,698, or 3.5% more. Saint-Étienne covers a larger area (80.0 km² versus 42.8 km²), but Toulon is more densely populated: 4,220 inhabitants per km² versus 2,185.
The median apartment price is higher in Toulon: €2,606 per m² versus €1,219. The median standard of living is higher in Toulon (€23,270 a year versus €20,880).
The two cities are 283 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
Toulon
City in Var
FVar83Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Population
- 180,774 inhab.
- 12th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 42.8 km²
- Density
- 4,220 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Saint-ÉtienneToulon
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Toulon+3% | 174,698 | 180,774 | More populous: Toulon+3% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Toulon+1.6 pt | +0.0% | +1.7% | Stronger growth: Toulon+1.6 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Toulon+8.7 pts | +0.6% | +9.4% | Stronger growth: Toulon+8.7 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Toulon+93% | 2,185 | 4,220 | Denser: Toulon+93% |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Étienne+1.4 pt | 17.0% | 15.6% | More young people: Saint-Étienne+1.4 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Toulon+3.3 pts | 20.5% | 23.8% | More seniors: Toulon+3.3 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Étienne+0.01 | 1.95 | 1.94 | Larger households: Saint-Étienne+0.01 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Toulon2.1 times as high | 1,219 | 2,606 | More expensive: Toulon2.1 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Toulon2.1 times as high | 2,172 | 4,545 | More expensive: Toulon2.1 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Toulon+46% | 9.9 | 14.4 | More expensive: Toulon+46% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Toulon+82% | 9.1 | 16.5 | More expensive: Toulon+82% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Toulon+5.9 pts | 38.9% | 44.8% | More homeowners: Toulon+5.9 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Toulon+9.8 pts | 10.7% | 20.5% | More houses: Toulon+9.8 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Étienne+14 pts | 31.9% | 18.1% | More social housing: Saint-Étienne+14 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Toulon+0.6 pt | 2.4% | 3.0% | More second homes: Toulon+0.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+8.4 pts | 12.0% | 3.6% | More vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+8.4 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Toulon+1.5 pt | 48.28% | 49.76% | Higher rate: Toulon+1.5 pt |
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 | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Toulon+11% | 20,880 | 23,270 | Higher: Toulon+11% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Étienne+6.1 pts | 30.4% | 24.3% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+6.1 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Toulon+16% | €23,469 | €27,115 | Higher: Toulon+16% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Toulon+6.4 pts | 37% | 43% | More taxpaying households: Toulon+6.4 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Toulon+3.7 pts | 68.3% | 72.1% | Higher: Toulon+3.7 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Étienne+5.4 pts | 19.0% | 13.5% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+5.4 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Régis Juanico | Josée Massi | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Étienne+2.2 pts | 97% | 94% | Better covered: Saint-Étienne+2.2 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 | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne+20% | 64.31,123 in total | 53.6969 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne+20% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+11% | 21.9383 in total | 19.8358 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+11% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulon+13% | 37.4653 in total | 42.4766 in total | More per capita: Toulon+13% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+44% | 14.3250 in total | 10.0180 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+44% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+23% | 1.425 in total | 1.221 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+23% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulon+16% | 1.120 in total | 1.324 in total | More per capita: Toulon+16% |
| 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 | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Toulon+7% | 3.8 | 4.1 | Better access: Toulon+7% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulon+8% | 9.2161 in total | 10.0180 in total | More per capita: Toulon+8% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulon+38% | 15.7275 in total | 21.8394 in total | More per capita: Toulon+38% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulon+97% | 4.172 in total | 8.1147 in total | More per capita: Toulon+97% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulon+43% | 2.950 in total | 4.174 in total | More per capita: Toulon+43% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Étienne+3 | 9 | 6 | More facilities: Saint-Étienne+3 |
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 | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Toulon+6 | 90 | 96 | More schools: Toulon+6 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Étienne+7 | 24 | 17 | More middle schools: Saint-Étienne+7 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Étienne+6 | 24 | 18 | More high schools: Saint-Étienne+6 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Étienne+20 | 39 | 19 | More facilities: Saint-Étienne+20 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Étienne+63% | 9.9 | 6.1 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+63% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+29% | 15.3 | 11.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+29% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulon+19% | 4.3 | 5.1 | Higher rate: Toulon+19% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+13% | 2.8 | 2.5 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+13% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+48% | 15.2 | 10.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+48% |
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 | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Toulon+5.3 °C | 11.4°C | 16.7°C | Warmer: Toulon+5.3 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,018 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Étienne+25% | 794 | 633 | Wetter: Saint-Étienne+25% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Étienne+47 days/year | 105 | 58 | More rainy days: Saint-Étienne+47 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saint-Étienne+58 days/year | 60 | 2 | More frost days: Saint-Étienne+58 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Toulon+16 days/year | 20 | 37 | More hot days: Toulon+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-Étienne | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Toulon+5 | 21 | 26 | More declarations: Toulon+5 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saint-Étienne+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Saint-Étienne+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Significant | Significant | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Toulon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Étienne+87% | 80.0 | 42.8 | Larger: Saint-Étienne+87% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Étienne+513 m | 515 m | 1 m | Higher: Saint-Étienne+513 m |
| Coastal commune | No | Yes (sea) | |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Loire (42) | Var (83) | |
| Intercommunality | Saint-Etienne Métropole | Métropole Toulon-Provence-Méditerranée | |
| Urban unit | Saint-Étienne | Toulon | |
| Functional area | Saint-Étienne | Toulon |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Étienne vs Toulon at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Toulon |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 174,698 | 180,774 |
| Change over 10 years | +0.6% | +9.4% |
| Density per km² | 2,185 | 4,220 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,219 | 2,606 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,172 | 4,545 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 9.9 | 14.4 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.28% | 49.76% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,880 | 23,270 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.0% | 13.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 94% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 4.1 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.9 | 6.1 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 16.7°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,018 | — |
| Area km² | 80.0 | 42.8 |
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FAQ
Saint-Étienne vs Toulon: your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Étienne or Toulon?
By population, Toulon: 180,774 inhabitants versus 174,698 for Saint-Étienne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Toulon is the 12th largest city in France, Saint-Étienne the 14th. By area, Saint-Étienne is the larger (80.0 km²).
How far is Saint-Étienne from Toulon?
Saint-Étienne and Toulon are 283 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Saint-Étienne or Toulon?
To buy an apartment, Toulon is more expensive: €2,606 per m² (median price), versus €1,219 in Saint-Étienne (+114%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Étienne or Toulon?
In Toulon, half of the residents have a standard of living above €23,270 a year, versus €20,880 in Saint-Étienne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Saint-Étienne and Toulon in the same department?
No: Saint-Étienne is in Loire (42), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and Toulon in Var (83), in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures