2026 comparison
Saint-Étienne vs Villeurbanne: 2026 comparison
Saint-Étienne has more inhabitants than Villeurbanne: 174,698 versus 164,747, or 6.0% more. Saint-Étienne covers a larger area (80.0 km² versus 14.5 km²), but Villeurbanne is more densely populated: 11,346 inhabitants per km² versus 2,185.
The median apartment price is higher in Villeurbanne: €3,806 per m² versus €1,219. The median standard of living is higher in Villeurbanne (€24,160 a year versus €20,880).
The two cities are 56 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
Villeurbanne
City in Rhône
- Population
- 164,747 inhab.
- 17th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 14.5 km²
- Density
- 11,346 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Saint-ÉtienneVilleurbanne
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Étienne+6% | 174,698 | 164,747 | More populous: Saint-Étienne+6% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+8.6 pts | +0.0% | +8.6% | Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+8.6 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+11 pts | +0.6% | +11.2% | Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+11 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Villeurbanne5.2 times as high | 2,185 | 11,346 | Denser: Villeurbanne5.2 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Étienne+0.6 pt | 17.0% | 16.4% | More young people: Saint-Étienne+0.6 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Étienne+7.0 pts | 20.5% | 13.6% | More seniors: Saint-Étienne+7.0 pts |
| People per householdTie | 1.95 | 1.95 | Tie |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Villeurbanne3.1 times as high | 1,219 | 3,806 | More expensive: Villeurbanne3.1 times as high |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Villeurbanne2.1 times as high | 2,172 | 4,505 | More expensive: Villeurbanne2.1 times as high |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Villeurbanne+58% | 9.9 | 15.6 | More expensive: Villeurbanne+58% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Villeurbanne+73% | 9.1 | 15.7 | More expensive: Villeurbanne+73% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Étienne+4.3 pts | 38.9% | 34.6% | More homeowners: Saint-Étienne+4.3 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Étienne+5.9 pts | 10.7% | 4.8% | More houses: Saint-Étienne+5.9 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Étienne+0.9 pt | 31.9% | 31.0% | More social housing: Saint-Étienne+0.9 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Villeurbanne+1.1 pt | 2.4% | 3.5% | More second homes: Villeurbanne+1.1 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+3.9 pts | 12.0% | 8.1% | More vacant homes: Saint-Étienne+3.9 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+14 pts | 48.28% | 34.32% | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+14 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 | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Villeurbanne+16% | 20,880 | 24,160 | Higher: Villeurbanne+16% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Étienne+7.3 pts | 30.4% | 23.1% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+7.3 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Villeurbanne+13% | €23,469 | €26,493 | Higher: Villeurbanne+13% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Villeurbanne+10 pts | 37% | 47% | More taxpaying households: Villeurbanne+10 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Villeurbanne+4.9 pts | 68.3% | 73.3% | Higher: Villeurbanne+4.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Étienne+6.0 pts | 19.0% | 13.0% | Higher: Saint-Étienne+6.0 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Régis Juanico | Cédric Van Styvendael | |
| 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-Étienne+2.8 pts | 97% | 94% | Better covered: Saint-Étienne+2.8 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 | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne+71% | 64.31,123 in total | 37.6620 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Étienne+71% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+36% | 21.9383 in total | 16.1266 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+36% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+9% | 37.4653 in total | 34.3565 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+9% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+44% | 14.3250 in total | 10.0164 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+44% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+81% | 1.425 in total | 0.813 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+81% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne3.1 times as high | 1.120 in total | 0.46 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne3.1 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Saint-Étienne+5 | 5 | 0 | More stations: Saint-Étienne+5 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Villeurbanne+2% | 3.8 | 3.9 | Better access: Villeurbanne+2% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+7% | 9.2161 in total | 8.6142 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+7% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Villeurbanne+88% | 15.7275 in total | 29.6487 in total | More per capita: Villeurbanne+88% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Villeurbanne+27% | 4.172 in total | 5.286 in total | More per capita: Villeurbanne+27% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Étienne+21% | 2.950 in total | 2.439 in total | More per capita: Saint-Étienne+21% |
| 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 | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Étienne+30 | 90 | 60 | More schools: Saint-Étienne+30 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Étienne+5 | 24 | 19 | More middle schools: Saint-Étienne+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Étienne+14 | 24 | 10 | More high schools: Saint-Étienne+14 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Étienne+13 | 39 | 26 | More facilities: Saint-Étienne+13 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Étienne+75% | 9.9 | 5.7 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+75% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+21% | 15.3 | 18.5 | Higher rate: Villeurbanne+21% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+13% | 4.3 | 3.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+13% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Tie | 2.8 | 2.8 | Tie |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+3% | 15.2 | 14.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Étienne+3% |
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 | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Villeurbanne+1.6 °C | 11.4°C | 13.0°C | Warmer: Villeurbanne+1.6 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Villeurbanne+2% | 2,018 | 2,050 | Sunnier: Villeurbanne+2% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Villeurbanne+3% | 794 | 821 | Wetter: Villeurbanne+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: Villeurbanne+10 days/year | 20 | 31 | More hot days: Villeurbanne+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 | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Étienne+9 | 21 | 12 | More declarations: Saint-Étienne+9 |
| 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 | Villeurbanne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Étienne5.5 times as high | 80.0 | 14.5 | Larger: Saint-Étienne5.5 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Étienne+345 m | 515 m | 169 m | Higher: Saint-Étienne+345 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 Villeurbanne at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Étienne | Villeurbanne |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 174,698 | 164,747 |
| Change over 10 years | +0.6% | +11.2% |
| Density per km² | 2,185 | 11,346 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,219 | 3,806 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,172 | 4,505 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 9.9 | 15.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.28% | 34.32% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 20,880 | 24,160 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 19.0% | 13.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 97% | 94% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.9 | 5.7 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 13.0°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,018 | 2,050 |
| Area km² | 80.0 | 14.5 |
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FAQ
Saint-Étienne vs Villeurbanne: your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Étienne or Villeurbanne?
By population, Saint-Étienne: 174,698 inhabitants versus 164,747 for Villeurbanne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Étienne is the 14th largest city in France, Villeurbanne the 17th. By area, Saint-Étienne is also the larger (80.0 km²).
How far is Saint-Étienne from Villeurbanne?
Saint-Étienne and Villeurbanne are 56 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Saint-Étienne or Villeurbanne?
To buy an apartment, Villeurbanne is more expensive: €3,806 per m² (median price), versus €1,219 in Saint-Étienne (+212%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Étienne or Villeurbanne?
In Villeurbanne, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,160 a year, versus €20,880 in Saint-Étienne (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Saint-Étienne or Villeurbanne?
Villeurbanne: 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