A well-rated place to live, with prices to match. Its standout strength is health — after allowing for care homes, deaths from 2016 to 2025 were 31% below expected, against 12% below for the median of compared French towns. It also does well on walkability — 97% of residents live within 800 m of a bakery, and 57% of working residents walk, cycle or take public transport to work. The catch is cost of living: at the median price, a 70 m² home costs 13.2 times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality. All told, that adds up to a B+ overall and a rank of #28 of 91 in Yvelines. That leaves it better than 74% of compared French towns. Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for safety and B for schools.
Figures: deaths, INSEE (by commune of residence, 2016–2025) · amenities, INSEE BPE 2025 · commuting, INSEE census 2023 · prices, DVF · income per consumption unit (an income adjusted for household size), INSEE Filosofi · recorded crime, SSMSI (Ministry of the Interior) · brevet and bac results, Ministry of Education.
Hazard risk isn’t graded in France yet: national flood maps cover only some areas. The overall grade uses the other six subjects.
Each subject compares Saint-Germain-en-Laye with other French towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far its rank is from the middle. American and UK towns are graded separately.
Hazard riskNot graded in France yet: national flood maps cover only some areas–
How TownRatings grades French towns →
Porte de Chambourcy · Classé · Photo: Rémih · CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint-Germain-en-Laye’s story
Saint-Germain-en-Laye in pictures
On the Culture ministry’s list, Saint-Germain-en-Laye counts 36 historic monuments: 13 classé at the top level of protection and 21 inscrit at the second.
That’s 7.8 for every 10,000 residents, more per resident than 81% of compared French towns; the median compared French town has 2.5.
The oldest protected part dates from the 12th century; the first monument here was protected in 1862.
Part of the town has been a protected historic area, a site patrimonial remarquable, since 1974.
1862First protected: Domaine de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
1974The protected historic area is created
2024Most recently protected: Zone technique de la Grille Dauphine
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Work & commuteJobs & income A
Incomes in Saint-Germain-en-Laye run higher than in Yvelines’ towns or compared French towns: a median €37,970 a year per consumption unit
57.4% of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train at the census, above both Yvelines’ towns (35.4%) and compared French towns (13.4%). Jobs based in Saint-Germain-en-Laye number 19,100, against 20,500 residents in work (0.9 per worker). At the census, 5.4% of working residents in Saint-Germain-en-Laye didn’t travel to work at all.
57%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2023
Public transport45%
Driving35%
On foot9%
Bicycle3%
Motorbike or scooter2%
19,100
jobs based in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 0.9 per working resident
9.5%
unemployment rate, ages 15 to 64 in the labor force · median of compared French towns 10.1%
€37,970
median annual income per consumption unit, 2023 · median of compared French towns €25,970
5%
worked without traveling (at or from home)
A+
Walkability: better than 98% of compared French towns
Source: INSEE, census 2023 (commuting, employment, jobs at place of work); INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
HousingCost of living D−
Homes in Saint-Germain-en-Laye cost more than in Yvelines’ towns or across compared French towns, with a median sale of €6,560/m²
Rents are the ministry’s estimates of advertised rents, not rents actually paid.
A house in Saint-Germain-en-Laye goes for €7,165/m², an apartment for €6,462/m². The town is the second most expensive of the 95 towns in Yvelines, at €6,560/m². The estimated advertised rent is €23.54/m² a month, above Yvelines’ towns (€18.40/m²) and compared French towns (€12.41/m²) alike.
€6,560/m²median sale price
Median sale price per m² · Jul 2023 to Jun 2026
Saint-Germain-en-Laye€6,560/m²
Median of towns€2,430/m²
Yvelines median€3,717/m²
By type
Median per m²
Sales
Houses
€7,165/m²
238
Apartments
€6,462/m²
1,235
€23.54/m²
estimated advertised apartment rent a month, charges included (€18.27 to €30.33/m² a month)
13.2
times the median annual income per consumption unit in the intercommunality, for 70 m² at the median price
€26.05/m²
estimated advertised house rent a month, charges included
€34,890
median annual income per consumption unit, Communauté d'agglomération Saint Germain Boucles de Seine
Source: DGFiP, DVF property sales (Etalab geolocated); Housing Ministry, Carte des loyers 2025; INSEE, Filosofi 2023 · Licence Ouverte
HealthHealth A
Fewer deaths than Saint-Germain-en-Laye’s ages would predict, 69 per 100 expected, under Yvelines’ towns and compared French towns
Care access and life expectancy are shown for context, not graded.
38 GPs practise in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Average lifespans in Yvelines: 86.8 years for women, 82.3 for men (2025), against 85.9 and 80.3 nationally. From 2016 to 2025, 3,107 residents of Saint-Germain-en-Laye died, against 4,132 expected from France’s death rates at each age: 25% fewer.
−31%deaths against expected, after care homesAHealth Grade
Deaths per 100 expected · 2016–2025
Raw75
Adjusted69
Median town88
Expected100
38
GPs in Saint-Germain-en-Laye · 2.4 GP consultations a year per resident within reach (APL)
1.6 mi
to the nearest emergency department, Centre hospitalier Prive de L Europe
1 mi
to the nearest maternity unit, Clinique Saint Germain
86.8 · 82.3
years of life expectancy at birth, women · men, Yvelines, 2025 (provisional) · France 85.9 · 80.3
A secteur sauvegardé since 1974, and 36 historic monuments
France has no History Grade yet: this card describes, it doesn’t grade.
Per 10,000 residents, Saint-Germain-en-Laye counts 7.8 protected monuments, higher than both Yvelines’ towns (1.7) and compared French towns (2.5). A protected historic area (site patrimonial remarquable) has covered part of the town since 1974. The earliest of these monuments dates from the 12th century. Among the classé monuments locally is Domaine de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Ministère de la Culture, Mérimée (Licence Ouverte 2.0) · INSEE, census 2023, homes by build period
Who lives here
More people in Saint-Germain-en-Laye hold a degree than in Yvelines’ towns or compared French towns: 67%
Children under 15 make up 19%, close to Yvelines’ towns (20%) and above compared French towns (17%). Retirement age and beyond: 18% of residents are 65 or older. Half of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is older than 41.3, half younger.
41.3median age
Saint-Germain-en-LayeYvelines medianFrance median
Ages · share of residents
12%
Under 1515–2425–4445–6465+
Highest diploma · residents 15 and older who have left education
No diploma8%
CAP or BEP9%
Baccalauréat12%
Higher education67%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
WomenFrance medianMen
About 92 men for every 100 women. Median share of women: Yvelines 51.6%, France 51.8%.
INSEE, census 2023 · Yvelines median and France median: the median of compared communes
Schools
92.7% of candidates passed the brevet at the 19 collèges within 5 km, 2.5 points below the expected rate
Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
Near Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 95.7% of lycée candidates passed the bac, above Yvelines’ towns (93.9%) and compared French towns (92.9%) alike. Schools rank #12 of 94 in Yvelines.
97%passed the bac (general and technological)BSchool Grade
Ministry of Education (DEPP) · brevet and bac 2025, value added (IVAC, IVAL) · Licence Ouverte
Safety
Crime per resident in Saint-Germain-en-Laye is higher than in 53% of compared French towns
Violence against people ran at 7.7 per 1,000 residents a year and the graded property crimes at 14.3 (2023–2025 average). The police record for Saint-Germain-en-Laye lists 919 offenses in 2025. Criminal damage topped the graded crimes in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (2025).
7.7recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a yearB−Safety Grade
Recorded by type · 2025
Criminal damage286
Family violence155
Other physical violence139
Burglary138
Theft from vehicles77
Sexual violence75
Vehicle theft49
Theft without violence533
Fraud356
Drug use284
Not in the gradeTheft without violence, drug use and fraud are shown for information but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence plus burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and criminal damage per resident.
7.7
recorded violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
14.3
recorded burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 average
919
offenses recorded in the graded categories in 2025
0.1%
of the index rests on the département’s average, used where small counts aren’t published
Source: SSMSI (Interior Ministry), recorded crime by commune, 2023–2025 · Licence Ouverte · For armed robbery, the count isn’t published when it’s small (five or fewer in a year of the last three), so the index uses the département’s average, 0.1% of the index here. The count covers the offense categories the Safety Grade uses.
On the Culture ministry’s list, Saint-Germain-en-Laye counts 36 historic monuments: 13 classé at the top level of protection and 21 inscrit at the second.
Domaine de Saint-Germain-en-Laye: Photo: Jérôme Nègre · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pavillons de Sully et Henri IV et vestiges du Château-Neuf: Photo: Claude Châtillon (1547-1616) · Public domain · Château du Val: Photo: Jérôme Nègre · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Prieuré, ancienne maison de Maurice Denis: Photo: Heurtelions · CC BY-SA 4.0
Famous people from Saint-Germain-en-Laye
172 notable people were born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Claude Debussy: Adam Cuerden, Public domain · Charles IX de France: Didier Descouens, Public domain · Amélie Mauresmo: Carine06, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marguerite de Valois: anonymous, Public domain · Jeanne d'Albret: School of François Clouet, Public domain · Philippe d'Orléans: Pierre Mignard I, Public domain
Saint-Germain-en-Laye’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.
Questions about Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Is Saint-Germain-en-Laye safe?
It grades B− for safety, #62 of 91 in Yvelines. In 2025 police and gendarmerie recorded 138 burglaries and 286 acts of criminal damage.
Are schools in Saint-Germain-en-Laye good?
They grade B, better than 60% of compared French towns and #12 of 94 in Yvelines. The lycée stands out: 100% of 109 candidates passed the bac at Lycée Saint-Augustin in 2025, a point above the expected rate given its pupils’ backgrounds. Primary schools aren’t graded: France doesn’t publish their results by school.
Is Saint-Germain-en-Laye expensive to live in?
Incomes are higher than in most compared French towns, so Saint-Germain-en-Laye grades D− for cost of living.
About Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Commune in Yvelines, Île-de-France
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune of 45,931 people in the Communauté d'agglomération Saint Germain Boucles de Seine. 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
Population
45,931 (INSEE, census 2023)
Intercommunality
Communauté d'agglomération Saint Germain Boucles de Seine
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.
