Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Lyon.
Who lives here
A young town: 19% of people in Lyon are 15 to 24, more than in Rhône’s towns or compared French towns
Graduates make up 59% of adults. 14% are under 15, below Rhône’s towns (19%) and compared French towns (17%) alike. Those 65 and older account for 15% of residents.
33.4median age
LyonRhône medianFrance median
Ages · share of residents
19%
Under 1515–2425–4445–6465+
Highest diploma · residents 15 and older who have left education
No diploma12%
CAP or BEP11%
Baccalauréat14%
Higher education59%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
WomenFrance medianMen
About 89 men for every 100 women. Median share of women: Rhône 51.5%, France 51.8%.
INSEE, census 2023 · Rhône median and France median: the median of compared communes
History
260 historic monuments, the oldest from Antiquity
France has no History Grade yet: this card describes, it doesn’t grade.
Before 1919: that is when 14% of homes were built. Since 1994, part of the town has been a site patrimonial remarquable, a protected historic area. Lyon has 5 protected monuments per 10,000 residents, above Rhône’s towns (1.8) and compared French towns (2.5) alike. Among the classé monuments locally is Aqueduc gallo-romain du Gier dit aussi du Mont-Pilat (également sur communes de Brignais, Chaponost, Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, Mornant, Soucieu-en-Jarrest).
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
Work & commute
Lyon gets to work on foot, by bike and by public transport more than Rhône’s towns or compared French towns: 65.9% of commuters
11.1% of the labour force were unemployed, above both Rhône’s towns (8.1%) and compared French towns (10.1%). Jobs located in Lyon: 343,000, for 249,600 residents in work (1.4 each). Per consumption unit, the median disposable income is €28,290 a year.
66%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2023
Public transport39%
Driving29%
On foot15%
Bicycle13%
Motorbike or scooter1%
343,000
jobs based in Lyon, 1.4 per working resident
11.1%
unemployment rate, ages 15 to 64 in the labor force · median of compared French towns 10.1%
€28,290
median annual income per consumption unit, 2023 · median of compared French towns €25,970
Ministry of Education (DEPP) · brevet and bac 2025, value added (IVAC, IVAL) · Licence Ouverte
Housing
The median sale price of homes in Lyon is €4,500/m²
Houses sell for €5,600/m² in Lyon, apartments for €4,490/m². Sales locally from July 2023 to June 2026: 19,299 houses and apartments. Of the homes sold, 3% were houses.
Aqueduc gallo-romain du Gier dit aussi du Mont-Pilat (également sur communes de Brignais, Chaponost, Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, Mornant, Soucieu-en-Jarrest): Photo: Otourly · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Egout romain: Photo: BELZUNCE Christian · CC BY-SA 3.0
André-Marie Ampère: Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain · Karim Benzema: Zack, CC BY 4.0 · Jean-Baptiste Say: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain · Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu: Design by Charles Thévenin (1764-1838), published in London, 1 March 1803, by Thornton, Public domain · Alexandre Lacazette: Amir Hosseini, CC BY 4.0 · Kurt Zouma: Egghead06, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lyon’s neighbors
The nearest towns of 2,500 or more. The map uses IGN’s commune boundaries. See them on the map →
People: INSEE, census 2023. Miles: center to center.
About Lyon
Commune in Rhône, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Lyon is a commune of 519,127 people in the Métropole de Lyon. TownRatings compares communes, France’s local unit: each has its own mayor and its own statistics. Its area takes in the town and the countryside around it.
Built from INSEE’s 2026 official geography (COG) and IGN Admin Express boundaries
Contains public sector information under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab): INSEE, DGFiP, the Interior Ministry’s statistics service (SSMSI), the Ministry of Education (DEPP), the Health Ministry’s statistics service (DREES) and the Housing Ministry (Carte des loyers). Commune boundaries: IGN Admin Express.
