2026 comparison
Saint-Herblain vs Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire: 2026 comparison
Saint-Herblain has more inhabitants than Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire: 51,681 versus 29,151, or 77% more. Saint-Herblain covers a larger area (30.0 km² versus 11.7 km²), but Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire is more densely populated: 2,500 inhabitants per km² versus 1,722.
The median apartment price is higher in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire: €3,303 per m² versus €2,642. The median standard of living is higher in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire (€28,930 a year versus €25,940).
The two cities are 9.9 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department and the same urban unit (Nantes).
Saint-Herblain
City in Loire-Atlantique
FLoire-Atlantique44Pays de la Loire
- Population
- 51,681 inhab.
- 131st in France · 3rd in its department
- Area
- 30.0 km²
- Density
- 1,722 per km²
© Ville de Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire
City in Loire-Atlantique
FLoire-Atlantique44Pays de la Loire
- Population
- 29,151 inhab.
- 304th in France · 6th in its department
- Area
- 11.7 km²
- Density
- 2,500 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Saint-HerblainSaint-Sébastien-sur-Loire
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Herblain+77% | 51,681 | 29,151 | More populous: Saint-Herblain+77% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Herblain+5.5 pts | +10.0% | +4.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Herblain+5.5 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Herblain+4.8 pts | +16.4% | +11.7% | Stronger growth: Saint-Herblain+4.8 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+45% | 1,722 | 2,500 | Denser: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+45% |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Herblain+1.0 pt | 17.8% | 16.7% | More young people: Saint-Herblain+1.0 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+2.6 pts | 18.7% | 21.3% | More seniors: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+2.6 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Herblain+0.01 | 2.04 | 2.03 | Larger households: Saint-Herblain+0.01 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+25% | 2,642 | 3,303 | More expensive: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+25% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+9% | 3,350 | 3,655 | More expensive: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+9% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Herblain+1% | 13.7 | 13.6 | More expensive: Saint-Herblain+1% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Herblain+4% | 13.1 | 12.7 | More expensive: Saint-Herblain+4% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+5.3 pts | 52.8% | 58.1% | More homeowners: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+5.3 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+18 pts | 34.1% | 52.4% | More houses: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+18 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Herblain+9.0 pts | 27.0% | 18.0% | More social housing: Saint-Herblain+9.0 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Herblain+0.3 pt | 1.9% | 1.6% | More second homes: Saint-Herblain+0.3 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Herblain+1.3 pt | 5.4% | 4.0% | More vacant homes: Saint-Herblain+1.3 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+7.5 pts | 46.35% | 53.84% | Higher rate: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+7.5 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-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+12% | 25,940 | 28,930 | Higher: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+12% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Herblain+7.2 pts | 16.9% | 9.7% | Higher: Saint-Herblain+7.2 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+18% | €29,916 | €35,444 | Higher: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+18% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+7.2 pts | 51% | 58% | More taxpaying households: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+7.2 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+0.8 pt | 78.4% | 79.3% | Higher: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+0.8 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Herblain+1.4 pt | 10.9% | 9.5% | Higher: Saint-Herblain+1.4 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Bertrand Affilé | Thomas Boucher | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+1.0 pt | 98% | 99% | Better covered: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+1.0 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Herblain+78% | 60.6313 in total | 34.099 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Herblain+78% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+61% | 11.057 in total | 6.920 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+61% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+71% | 30.6158 in total | 17.852 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+71% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+10% | 21.9113 in total | 19.958 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+10% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain2.4 times as high | 2.513 in total | 1.03 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain2.4 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain2.4 times as high | 2.513 in total | 1.03 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain2.4 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Herblain+4% | 4.9 | 4.7 | Better access: Saint-Herblain+4% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+42% | 11.258 in total | 7.923 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+42% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain6.6 times as high | 50.1259 in total | 7.522 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain6.6 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+25% | 7.237 in total | 8.926 in total | More per capita: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+25% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Herblain+32% | 2.714 in total | 2.16 in total | More per capita: Saint-Herblain+32% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Herblain+5 | 6 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-Herblain+5 |
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-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Herblain+13 | 25 | 12 | More schools: Saint-Herblain+13 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Herblain+5 | 8 | 3 | More middle schools: Saint-Herblain+5 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+1 | 4 | 5 | More high schools: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Herblain+10 | 11 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-Herblain+10 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Herblain+2% | 9.0 | 8.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+2% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+44% | 10.6 | 7.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+44% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+48% | 3.0 | 2.0 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+48% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+15% | 3.7 | 3.3 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+15% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+88% | 11.7 | 6.2 | Higher rate: Saint-Herblain+88% |
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-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+0.1 °C | 12.7°C | 12.8°C | Warmer: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+0.1 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearTie | 1,873 | 1,873 | Tie |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+5% | 820 | 859 | Wetter: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+5% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+7 days/year | 120 | 127 | More rainy days: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+7 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+6 days/year | 29 | 35 | More frost days: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+6 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+6 days/year | 12 | 18 | More hot days: Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire+6 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-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Herblain+1 | 8 | 7 | More declarations: Saint-Herblain+1 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Radon potential | Significant | Low, with aggravating factors |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Herblain2.6 times as high | 30.0 | 11.7 | Larger: Saint-Herblain2.6 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Herblain+2 m | 20 m | 18 m | Higher: Saint-Herblain+2 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| DepartmentSame | Loire-Atlantique (44) | Loire-Atlantique (44) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Nantes Métropole | Nantes Métropole | Same |
| Urban unitSame | Nantes | Nantes | Same |
| Functional areaSame | Nantes | Nantes | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Herblain vs Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Herblain | Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 51,681 | 29,151 |
| Change over 10 years | +16.4% | +11.7% |
| Density per km² | 1,722 | 2,500 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,642 | 3,303 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,350 | 3,655 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.7 | 13.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 46.35% | 53.84% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 25,940 | 28,930 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 10.9% | 9.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 99% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Average temperature | 12.7°C | 12.8°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,873 | 1,873 |
| Area km² | 30.0 | 11.7 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Saint-Herblain vs Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire: your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Herblain or Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire?
By population, Saint-Herblain: 51,681 inhabitants versus 29,151 for Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Herblain is the 131st largest city in France, Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire the 304th. By area, Saint-Herblain is also the larger (30.0 km²).
How far is Saint-Herblain from Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire?
Saint-Herblain and Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire are 9.9 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Loire-Atlantique).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Saint-Herblain or Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire?
To buy an apartment, Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire is more expensive: €3,303 per m² (median price), versus €2,642 in Saint-Herblain (+25%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Herblain or Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire?
In Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,930 a year, versus €25,940 in Saint-Herblain (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Saint-Herblain and Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Loire-Atlantique (44), in the Pays de la Loire region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures