2026 comparison
Saint-Étienne vs Vénissieux: 2026 comparison
Saint-Étienne has more inhabitants than Vénissieux: 174,698 versus 65,689, or 2.7 times as many. Saint-Étienne covers a larger area (80.0 km² versus 15.3 km²), but Vénissieux is more densely populated: 4,285 inhabitants per km² versus 2,185.
The median apartment price is higher in Vénissieux: €2,846 per m² versus €1,219. The median standard of living is higher in Saint-Étienne (€20,880 a year versus €18,980).
The two cities are 51 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
Vénissieux
City in Rhône
- Population
- 65,689 inhab.
- 83rd in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 15.3 km²
- Density
- 4,285 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Saint-ÉtienneVénissieux
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Étienne2.7 times as high | 174,698 | 65,689 | More populous: Saint-Étienne2.7 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Étienne+2.5 pts | +0.0% | −2.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Étienne+2.5 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Vénissieux+5.6 pts | +0.6% | +6.3% | Stronger growth: Vénissieux+5.6 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Vénissieux+96% | 2,185 | 4,285 | Denser: Vénissieux+96% |
| Under 15More young people: Vénissieux+6.0 pts | 17.0% | 23.0% | More young people: Vénissieux+6.0 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Étienne+6.0 pts | 20.5% | 14.5% | More seniors: Saint-Étienne+6.0 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Vénissieux+0.43 | 1.95 | 2.38 | Larger households: Vénissieux+0.43 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Vénissieux2.3 times as high | 1,219 | 2,846 | More expensive: Vénissieux2.3 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Vénissieux+66% | 2,172 | 3,598 | More expensive: Vénissieux+66% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Vénissieux+49% | 9.9 | 14.7 | More expensive: Vénissieux+49% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Vénissieux+49% | 9.1 | 13.5 | More expensive: Vénissieux+49% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Étienne+7.7 pts | 38.9% | 31.2% | More homeowners: Saint-Étienne+7.7 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Vénissieux+2.7 pts | 10.7% | 13.4% | More houses: Vénissieux+2.7 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Vénissieux+19 pts | 31.9% | 50.8% | More social housing: Vénissieux+19 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Étienne+1.0 pt | 2.4% | 1.4% | More second homes: Saint-Étienne+1.0 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+3.0 pts | 12.0% | 9.0% | More vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+3.0 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+11 pts | 48.28% | 37.18% | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+11 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 | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Saint-Étienne+10% | 20,880 | 18,980 | Higher: Saint-Étienne+10% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Vénissieux+4.8 pts | 30.4% | 35.2% | Higher: Vénissieux+4.8 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Saint-Étienne+11% | €23,469 | €21,200 | Higher: Saint-Étienne+11% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saint-Étienne+3.7 pts | 37% | 33% | More taxpaying households: Saint-Étienne+3.7 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.1 pt | 68.3% | 68.2% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.1 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.2 pt | 19.0% | 18.8% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+0.2 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Régis Juanico | Idir Boumertit | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | La France insoumise | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Étienne+4.5 pts | 97% | 92% | Better covered: Saint-Étienne+4.5 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 | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne2.3 times as high | 64.31,123 in total | 28.0184 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne2.3 times as high |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne2.1 times as high | 21.9383 in total | 10.569 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne2.1 times as high |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+34% | 37.4653 in total | 27.9183 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+34% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+31% | 14.3250 in total | 11.072 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+31% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+34% | 1.425 in total | 1.17 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+34% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+50% | 1.120 in total | 0.85 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+50% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Saint-Étienne+4 | 5 | 1 | More stations: Saint-Étienne+4 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Vénissieux+23% | 3.8 | 4.7 | Better access: Vénissieux+23% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+10% | 9.2161 in total | 8.455 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+10% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Vénissieux+6% | 15.7275 in total | 16.7110 in total | More per capita: Vénissieux+6% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+23% | 4.172 in total | 3.322 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+23% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 2.950 in total | 2.919 in total | Tie |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Étienne+4 | 9 | 5 | More facilities: Saint-Étienne+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-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Étienne+50 | 90 | 40 | More schools: Saint-Étienne+50 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Étienne+14 | 24 | 10 | More middle schools: Saint-Étienne+14 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Étienne+19 | 24 | 5 | More high schools: Saint-Étienne+19 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Étienne+38 | 39 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-Étienne+38 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Étienne+60% | 9.9 | 6.2 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+60% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Vénissieux+10% | 15.3 | 16.7 | Higher rate: Vénissieux+10% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Vénissieux+48% | 4.3 | 6.4 | Higher rate: Vénissieux+48% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Vénissieux+52% | 2.8 | 4.2 | Higher rate: Vénissieux+52% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Vénissieux+6% | 15.2 | 16.0 | Higher rate: Vénissieux+6% |
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 | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Vénissieux+1.6 °C | 11.4°C | 13.0°C | Warmer: Vénissieux+1.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Vénissieux+2% | 2,018 | 2,050 | Sunnier: Vénissieux+2% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Vénissieux+3% | 794 | 821 | Wetter: Vénissieux+3% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Étienne+2 days/year | 105 | 103 | More rainy days: Saint-Étienne+2 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saint-Étienne+17 days/year | 60 | 42 | More frost days: Saint-Étienne+17 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Vénissieux+10 days/year | 20 | 31 | More hot days: Vénissieux+10 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 | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Étienne+10 | 21 | 11 | More declarations: Saint-Étienne+10 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Saint-Étienne+2 | 2 | 0 | More plans: Saint-Étienne+2 |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Étienne5.2 times as high | 80.0 | 15.3 | Larger: Saint-Étienne5.2 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Étienne+326 m | 515 m | 189 m | Higher: Saint-Étienne+326 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Loire (42) | Rhône (69) | |
| Intercommunality | Saint-Etienne Métropole | Métropole de Lyon | |
| Urban unit | Saint-Étienne | Lyon | |
| Functional area | Saint-Étienne | Lyon |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Étienne vs Vénissieux at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Vénissieux |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 174,698 | 65,689 |
| Change over 10 years | +0.6% | +6.3% |
| Density per km² | 2,185 | 4,285 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,219 | 2,846 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,172 | 3,598 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 9.9 | 14.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.28% | 37.18% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,880 | 18,980 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.0% | 18.8% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 92% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.9 | 6.2 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 13.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,018 | 2,050 |
| Area km² | 80.0 | 15.3 |
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FAQ
Saint-Étienne vs Vénissieux: your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Étienne or Vénissieux?
By population, Saint-Étienne: 174,698 inhabitants versus 65,689 for Vénissieux (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Étienne is the 14th largest city in France, Vénissieux the 83rd. By area, Saint-Étienne is also the larger (80.0 km²).
How far is Saint-Étienne from Vénissieux?
Saint-Étienne and Vénissieux are 51 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Saint-Étienne or Vénissieux?
To buy an apartment, Vénissieux is more expensive: €2,846 per m² (median price), versus €1,219 in Saint-Étienne (+133%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Étienne or Vénissieux?
In Saint-Étienne, half of the residents have a standard of living above €20,880 a year, versus €18,980 in Vénissieux (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Saint-Étienne or Vénissieux?
Vénissieux: 2,050 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 2,018 in Saint-Étienne (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures