Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Strasbourg vs Villeurbanne: 2026 comparison

Strasbourg has more inhabitants than Villeurbanne: 296,552 versus 164,747, or 80% more. Strasbourg covers a larger area (78.3 km² versus 14.5 km²), but Villeurbanne is more densely populated: 11,346 inhabitants per km² versus 3,789.

The median standard of living is higher in Villeurbanne (€24,160 a year versus €21,980).

The two cities are 379 km apart as the crow flies.

StrasbourgVilleurbanne
StrasbourgVilleurbanne379 km as the crow flies

Strasbourg

City in Bas-Rhin

Bas-Rhin67Grand Est

Population
296,552 inhab.
8th in France · 1st in its department
Area
78.3 km²
Density
3,789 per km²
Full profile of Strasbourg

Villeurbanne

City in Rhône

Rhône69Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Population
164,747 inhab.
17th in France · 2nd in its department
Area
14.5 km²
Density
11,346 per km²
Full profile of Villeurbanne

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

StrasbourgVilleurbanne

Population: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Strasbourg+80%296,552164,747More populous: Strasbourg+80%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+5.5 pts+3.2%+8.6%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+5.5 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Villeurbanne+4.7 pts+6.5%+11.2%Stronger growth: Villeurbanne+4.7 pts
Density per km²Denser: Villeurbanne3.0 times as high3,78911,346Denser: Villeurbanne3.0 times as high
Under 15More young people: Strasbourg+0.1 pt16.5%16.4%More young people: Strasbourg+0.1 pt
65 and overMore seniors: Strasbourg+1.2 pt14.8%13.6%More seniors: Strasbourg+1.2 pt
People per householdLarger households: Strasbourg+0.052.001.95Larger households: Strasbourg+0.05

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Median apartment price €/m²not covered3,806
Median house price €/m²not covered4,505
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedTie15.615.6Tie
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedTie15.715.7Tie
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Villeurbanne+7.8 pts26.8%34.6%More homeowners: Villeurbanne+7.8 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Strasbourg+1.2 pt6.1%4.8%More houses: Strasbourg+1.2 pt
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Strasbourg+2.5 pts33.5%31.0%More social housing: Strasbourg+2.5 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Strasbourg+1.4 pt4.9%3.5%More second homes: Strasbourg+1.4 pt
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Strasbourg+0.5 pt8.6%8.1%More vacant homes: Strasbourg+0.5 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Strasbourg+7.9 pts42.25%34.32%Higher rate: Strasbourg+7.9 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

Income and jobs: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Villeurbanne+10%21,98024,160Higher: Villeurbanne+10%
Poverty rateHigher: Strasbourg+6.5 pts29.6%23.1%Higher: Strasbourg+6.5 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Strasbourg+10%€29,242€26,493Higher: Strasbourg+10%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Villeurbanne+4.3 pts42%47%More taxpaying households: Villeurbanne+4.3 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Villeurbanne+4.2 pts69.0%73.3%Higher: Villeurbanne+4.2 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Strasbourg+2.5 pts15.5%13.0%Higher: Strasbourg+2.5 pts

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
MayorCatherine TrautmannCédric Van Styvendael
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)miscellaneous leftunion of the left
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Villeurbanne+1.0 pt93%94%Better covered: Villeurbanne+1.0 pt

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Strasbourg+63%61.31,817 in total37.6620 in totalMore shops per capita: Strasbourg+63%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+22%19.7583 in total16.1266 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+22%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+47%50.31,492 in total34.3565 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+47%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+34%13.3395 in total10.0164 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+34%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+92%1.545 in total0.813 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+92%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg8.0 times as high2.986 in total0.46 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg8.0 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Strasbourg+220More stations: Strasbourg+2

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Strasbourg+68%6.53.9Better access: Strasbourg+68%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+81%15.6463 in total8.6142 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+81%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+21%35.81,062 in total29.6487 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+21%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg2.1 times as high11.0327 in total5.286 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg2.1 times as high
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+11%2.678 in total2.439 in totalMore per capita: Strasbourg+11%
HospitalsMore facilities: Strasbourg+19245More facilities: Strasbourg+19

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

Education: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Strasbourg+6712760More schools: Strasbourg+67
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Strasbourg+254419More middle schools: Strasbourg+25
High schoolsMore high schools: Strasbourg+293910More high schools: Strasbourg+29
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Strasbourg+739926More facilities: Strasbourg+73

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Villeurbanne+33%4.35.7Higher rate: Villeurbanne+33%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Strasbourg+40%25.818.5Higher rate: Strasbourg+40%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Strasbourg+29%4.93.8Higher rate: Strasbourg+29%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne2.8 times as high1.02.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne2.8 times as high
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Villeurbanne+31%11.314.8Higher rate: Villeurbanne+31%

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

Climate: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Villeurbanne+1.6 °C11.4°C13.0°CWarmer: Villeurbanne+1.6 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Villeurbanne+17%1,7472,050Sunnier: Villeurbanne+17%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Villeurbanne+29%636821Wetter: Villeurbanne+29%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Strasbourg+10 days/year112103More rainy days: Strasbourg+10 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Strasbourg+17 days/year6042More frost days: Strasbourg+17 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Villeurbanne+12 days/year1831More hot days: Villeurbanne+12 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Strasbourg+51712More declarations: Strasbourg+5
Natural hazard prevention plansTie11Tie
Radon potentialSameLowLowSame

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne compared
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanneDifference
Area km²Larger: Strasbourg5.4 times as high78.314.5Larger: Strasbourg5.4 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Villeurbanne+28 m141 m169 mHigher: Villeurbanne+28 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentBas-Rhin (67)Rhône (69)
IntercommunalityEurométropole de StrasbourgMétropole de Lyon
Urban unitStrasbourg (partie française)Lyon
Functional areaStrasbourg (partie française)Lyon

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Strasbourg vs Villeurbanne at a glance

Summary table: Strasbourg and Villeurbanne
CriterionStrasbourgVilleurbanne
Population inhab.296,552164,747
Change over 10 years+6.5%+11.2%
Density per km²3,78911,346
Median apartment price €/m²not covered3,806
Median house price €/m²not covered4,505
Apartment rent €/m²15.615.6
Property tax (combined rate)42.25%34.32%
Median standard of living €/year21,98024,160
Unemployment rate (census)15.5%13.0%
Premises with fiber93%94%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year6.53.9
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes4.35.7
Average temperature11.4°C13.0°C
Sunshine h/year1,7472,050
Area km²78.314.5

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

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FAQ

Strasbourg vs Villeurbanne: your questions

Which is the larger city, Strasbourg or Villeurbanne?

By population, Strasbourg: 296,552 inhabitants versus 164,747 for Villeurbanne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Strasbourg is the 8th largest city in France, Villeurbanne the 17th. By area, Strasbourg is also the larger (78.3 km²).

How far is Strasbourg from Villeurbanne?

Strasbourg and Villeurbanne are 379 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is the standard of living higher, in Strasbourg or Villeurbanne?

In Villeurbanne, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,160 a year, versus €21,980 in Strasbourg (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Strasbourg or Villeurbanne?

Villeurbanne: 2,050 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 Villeurbanne in the same department?

No: Strasbourg is in Bas-Rhin (67), in the Grand Est region, and Villeurbanne in Rhône (69), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

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