2026 comparison
Saint-Leu vs Saint-Paul (974): 2026 comparison
Saint-Paul has more inhabitants than Saint-Leu: 109,405 versus 36,687, or 3.0 times as many. Saint-Paul is both larger (241 km² versus 118 km²) and more densely populated (453 inhabitants per km² versus 310).
The median apartment price is higher in Saint-Paul: €4,809 per m² versus €4,518. The median standard of living is higher in Saint-Paul (€21,220 a year versus €19,680).
The two cities are 16 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Saint-Leu
City in Réunion
- Population
- 36,687 inhab.
- 228th in France · 11th in its department
- Area
- 118 km²
- Density
- 310 per km²
Saint-Paul
City in Réunion
- Population
- 109,405 inhab.
- 39th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 241 km²
- Density
- 453 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1954
Saint-LeuSaint-Paul
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Paul3.0 times as high | 36,687 | 109,405 | More populous: Saint-Paul3.0 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Leu+1.3 pt | +5.8% | +4.4% | Stronger growth: Saint-Leu+1.3 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Leu+5.5 pts | +9.1% | +3.6% | Stronger growth: Saint-Leu+5.5 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Saint-Paul+46% | 310 | 453 | Denser: Saint-Paul+46% |
| Under 15More young people: Saint-Leu+0.9 pt | 20.5% | 19.6% | More young people: Saint-Leu+0.9 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Paul+1.1 pt | 13.5% | 14.7% | More seniors: Saint-Paul+1.1 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Saint-Paul+0.06 | 2.45 | 2.51 | Larger households: Saint-Paul+0.06 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Paul+6% | 4,518 | 4,809 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+6% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Paul+4% | 3,750 | 3,891 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+4% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Paul+14% | 16.5 | 18.9 | More expensive: Saint-Paul+14% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Saint-Leu+1% | 15.8 | 15.6 | More expensive: Saint-Leu+1% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Saint-Leu+0.1 pt | 61.1% | 61.0% | More homeowners: Saint-Leu+0.1 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Saint-Leu+5.4 pts | 77.2% | 71.8% | More houses: Saint-Leu+5.4 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Paul+5.9 pts | 12.4% | 18.3% | More social housing: Saint-Paul+5.9 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Paul+1.5 pt | 5.8% | 7.3% | More second homes: Saint-Paul+1.5 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Paul+1.8 pt | 7.6% | 9.4% | More vacant homes: Saint-Paul+1.8 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Saint-Leu+5.7 pts | 48.99% | 43.28% | Higher rate: Saint-Leu+5.7 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-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Saint-Paul+8% | 19,680 | 21,220 | Higher: Saint-Paul+8% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Leu+3.9 pts | 34.3% | 30.4% | Higher: Saint-Leu+3.9 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Saint-Paul+12% | €23,117 | €25,928 | Higher: Saint-Paul+12% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Saint-Paul+3.1 pts | 25% | 28% | More taxpaying households: Saint-Paul+3.1 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Saint-Leu+3.9 pts | 74.1% | 70.2% | Higher: Saint-Leu+3.9 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Leu+5.7 pts | 29.6% | 23.9% | Higher: Saint-Leu+5.7 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Karim Juhoor | Emmanuel Séraphin | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous centre | union of the left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Saint-Paul+8.2 pts | 87% | 95% | Better covered: Saint-Paul+8.2 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Saint-Paul+23% | 56.4207 in total | 69.3758 in total | More shops per capita: Saint-Paul+23% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Leu+8% | 27.099 in total | 25.0274 in total | More per capita: Saint-Leu+8% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+10% | 49.1180 in total | 53.7588 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+10% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+6% | 23.285 in total | 24.6269 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+6% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Leu+99% | 2.28 in total | 1.112 in total | More per capita: Saint-Leu+99% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul3.1 times as high | 1.14 in total | 3.437 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul3.1 times as high |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Saint-Paul+36% | 5.0 | 6.8 | Better access: Saint-Paul+36% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 12.847 in total | 12.8140 in total | Tie |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Paul+45% | 11.442 in total | 16.6182 in total | More per capita: Saint-Paul+45% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Leu+4% | 10.137 in total | 9.7106 in total | More per capita: Saint-Leu+4% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.Tie | 2.710 in total | 2.730 in total | Tie |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Paul+5 | 1 | 6 | More facilities: Saint-Paul+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-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Paul+48 | 21 | 69 | More schools: Saint-Paul+48 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Paul+11 | 4 | 15 | More middle schools: Saint-Paul+11 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Paul+7 | 2 | 9 | More high schools: Saint-Paul+7 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Paul+1 | 0 | 1 | More facilities: Saint-Paul+1 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Saint-Paul+30% | 1.3 | 1.6 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+30% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Paul+27% | 5.3 | 6.7 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+27% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Paul+12% | 3.9 | 4.4 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+12% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Paul+46% | 1.2 | 1.8 | Higher rate: Saint-Paul+46% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Tie | 6.5 | 6.5 | Tie |
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-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Saint-Leu+0.9 °C | 25.3°C | 24.4°C | Warmer: Saint-Leu+0.9 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,567 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Saint-Paul+24% | 482 | 598 | Wetter: Saint-Paul+24% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Saint-Paul+10 days/year | 37 | 48 | More rainy days: Saint-Paul+10 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Saint-Paul+14 days/year | 135 | 149 | More hot days: Saint-Paul+14 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-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Saint-Paul+3 | 21 | 24 | More declarations: Saint-Paul+3 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansTie | 2 | 2 | Tie |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Saint-Paul2.0 times as high | 118 | 241 | Larger: Saint-Paul2.0 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Paul+3 m | 3 m | 5 m | Higher: Saint-Paul+3 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Small town | Intermediate urban centre | |
| DepartmentSame | Réunion (974) | Réunion (974) | Same |
| IntercommunalitySame | Communauté d'agglomération Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) | Communauté d'agglomération Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) | Same |
| Urban unit | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul | |
| Functional areaSame | Saint-Paul | Saint-Paul | Same |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Saint-Leu vs Saint-Paul (974) at a glance
| Criterion | Saint-Leu | Saint-Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 36,687 | 109,405 |
| Change over 10 years | +9.1% | +3.6% |
| Density per km² | 310 | 453 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 4,518 | 4,809 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,750 | 3,891 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 16.5 | 18.9 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 48.99% | 43.28% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 19,680 | 21,220 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 29.6% | 23.9% |
| Premises with fiber | 87% | 95% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 5.0 | 6.8 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Average temperature | 25.3°C | 24.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,567 |
| Area km² | 118 | 241 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Saint-Leu vs Saint-Paul (974): your questions
Which is the larger city, Saint-Leu or Saint-Paul?
By population, Saint-Paul: 109,405 inhabitants versus 36,687 for Saint-Leu (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Paul is the 39th largest city in France, Saint-Leu the 228th. By area, Saint-Paul is also the larger (241 km²).
How far is Saint-Leu from Saint-Paul?
Saint-Leu and Saint-Paul are 16 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Réunion).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Saint-Leu or Saint-Paul?
To buy an apartment, Saint-Paul is more expensive: €4,809 per m² (median price), versus €4,518 in Saint-Leu (+6%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Saint-Leu or Saint-Paul?
In Saint-Paul, half of the residents have a standard of living above €21,220 a year, versus €19,680 in Saint-Leu (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Saint-Leu and Saint-Paul in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in Réunion (974), in the Réunion region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures