2026 comparison
Strasbourg vs Toulouse: 2026 comparison
Toulouse has more inhabitants than Strasbourg: 519,940 versus 296,552, or 75% more. Toulouse is both larger (118 km² versus 78.3 km²) and more densely populated (4,395 inhabitants per km² versus 3,789).
The median standard of living is higher in Toulouse (€24,500 a year versus €21,980).
The two cities are 737 km apart as the crow flies.
Strasbourg
City in Bas-Rhin
- Population
- 296,552 inhab.
- 8th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 78.3 km²
- Density
- 3,789 per km²
Toulouse
City in Haute-Garonne
- Population
- 519,940 inhab.
- 4th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 118 km²
- Density
- 4,395 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
StrasbourgToulouse
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Toulouse+75% | 296,552 | 519,940 | More populous: Toulouse+75% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Toulouse+2.6 pts | +3.2% | +5.7% | Stronger growth: Toulouse+2.6 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Toulouse+5.8 pts | +6.5% | +12.3% | Stronger growth: Toulouse+5.8 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Toulouse+16% | 3,789 | 4,395 | Denser: Toulouse+16% |
| Under 15More young people: Strasbourg+2.8 pts | 16.5% | 13.8% | More young people: Strasbourg+2.8 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Strasbourg+1.8 pt | 14.8% | 13.0% | More seniors: Strasbourg+1.8 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Strasbourg+0.22 | 2.00 | 1.78 | Larger households: Strasbourg+0.22 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m² | not covered | 3,295 | |
| Median house price €/m² | not covered | 3,800 | |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Strasbourg+11% | 15.6 | 14.0 | More expensive: Strasbourg+11% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Strasbourg+22% | 15.7 | 12.9 | More expensive: Strasbourg+22% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Toulouse+5.4 pts | 26.8% | 32.2% | More homeowners: Toulouse+5.4 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Toulouse+9.0 pts | 6.1% | 15.0% | More houses: Toulouse+9.0 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Strasbourg+11 pts | 33.5% | 22.1% | More social housing: Strasbourg+11 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Strasbourg+0.9 pt | 4.9% | 4.0% | More second homes: Strasbourg+0.9 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Strasbourg+0.4 pt | 8.6% | 8.2% | More vacant homes: Strasbourg+0.4 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Toulouse+7.4 pts | 42.25% | 49.67% | Higher rate: Toulouse+7.4 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 | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Toulouse+11% | 21,980 | 24,500 | Higher: Toulouse+11% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Strasbourg+5.6 pts | 29.6% | 24.0% | Higher: Strasbourg+5.6 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Toulouse+0.8% | €29,242 | €29,462 | Higher: Toulouse+0.8% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Toulouse+5.0 pts | 42% | 47% | More taxpaying households: Toulouse+5.0 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Toulouse+3.7 pts | 69.0% | 72.8% | Higher: Toulouse+3.7 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Strasbourg+1.3 pt | 15.5% | 14.3% | Higher: Strasbourg+1.3 pt |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Catherine Trautmann | Jean-Luc Moudenc | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | miscellaneous right | |
| Premises with fiberTie | 93% | 93% | Tie |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Strasbourg+8% | 61.31,817 in total | 56.72,946 in total | More shops per capita: Strasbourg+8% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+3% | 19.7583 in total | 19.1995 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+3% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+6% | 50.31,492 in total | 47.32,460 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+6% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+21% | 13.3395 in total | 16.1838 in total | More per capita: Toulouse+21% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+16% | 1.545 in total | 1.368 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+16% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+52% | 2.986 in total | 1.999 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+52% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Toulouse+8 | 2 | 10 | More stations: Toulouse+8 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Strasbourg+48% | 6.5 | 4.4 | Better access: Strasbourg+48% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+45% | 15.6463 in total | 10.8559 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+45% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+36% | 35.81,062 in total | 26.31,366 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+36% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+18% | 11.0327 in total | 9.3486 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+18% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Toulouse+11% | 2.678 in total | 2.9152 in total | More per capita: Toulouse+11% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Toulouse+17 | 24 | 41 | More facilities: Toulouse+17 |
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 | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Toulouse+94 | 127 | 221 | More schools: Toulouse+94 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Toulouse+7 | 44 | 51 | More middle schools: Toulouse+7 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Toulouse+25 | 39 | 64 | More high schools: Toulouse+25 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Toulouse+70 | 99 | 169 | More facilities: Toulouse+70 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Toulouse+50% | 4.3 | 6.4 | Higher rate: Toulouse+50% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Strasbourg+26% | 25.8 | 20.5 | Higher rate: Strasbourg+26% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulouse+0.9% | 4.9 | 5.0 | Higher rate: Toulouse+0.9% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulouse2.1 times as high | 1.0 | 2.1 | Higher rate: Toulouse2.1 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Toulouse+1% | 11.3 | 11.5 | Higher rate: Toulouse+1% |
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 | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Toulouse+2.8 °C | 11.4°C | 14.2°C | Warmer: Toulouse+2.8 °C |
| Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Toulouse+19% | 1,747 | 2,075 | Sunnier: Toulouse+19% |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Strasbourg+1% | 636 | 627 | Wetter: Strasbourg+1% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Strasbourg+17 days/year | 112 | 96 | More rainy days: Strasbourg+17 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Strasbourg+33 days/year | 60 | 27 | More frost days: Strasbourg+33 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Toulouse+15 days/year | 18 | 33 | More hot days: Toulouse+15 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 | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Toulouse+31 | 17 | 48 | More declarations: Toulouse+31 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Toulouse+3 | 1 | 4 | More plans: Toulouse+3 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Toulouse+51% | 78.3 | 118 | Larger: Toulouse+51% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Toulouse+2 m | 141 m | 143 m | Higher: Toulouse+2 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Bas-Rhin (67) | Haute-Garonne (31) | |
| Intercommunality | Eurométropole de Strasbourg | Toulouse Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Strasbourg (partie française) | Toulouse | |
| Functional area | Strasbourg (partie française) | Toulouse |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Strasbourg vs Toulouse at a glance
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Toulouse |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 296,552 | 519,940 |
| Change over 10 years | +6.5% | +12.3% |
| Density per km² | 3,789 | 4,395 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | not covered | 3,295 |
| Median house price €/m² | not covered | 3,800 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 15.6 | 14.0 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 42.25% | 49.67% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 21,980 | 24,500 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 15.5% | 14.3% |
| Premises with fiber | 93% | 93% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 6.5 | 4.4 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.3 | 6.4 |
| Average temperature | 11.4°C | 14.2°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 1,747 | 2,075 |
| Area km² | 78.3 | 118 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Strasbourg vs Toulouse: your questions
Which is the larger city, Strasbourg or Toulouse?
By population, Toulouse: 519,940 inhabitants versus 296,552 for Strasbourg (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Toulouse is the 4th largest city in France, Strasbourg the 8th. By area, Toulouse is also the larger (118 km²).
How far is Strasbourg from Toulouse?
Strasbourg and Toulouse are 737 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is the standard of living higher, in Strasbourg or Toulouse?
In Toulouse, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,500 a year, versus €21,980 in Strasbourg (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Which city is sunnier, Strasbourg or Toulouse?
Toulouse: 2,075 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,747 in Strasbourg (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).
Are Strasbourg and Toulouse in the same department?
No: Strasbourg is in Bas-Rhin (67), in the Grand Est region, and Toulouse in Haute-Garonne (31), in the Occitanie region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures