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Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Normandie

France · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

48
Overall Score

Hérouville-Saint-Clair is a vibrant commune located in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of northwestern France. Situated just north of Caen, the city has evolved from a small agricultural village into a dynamic urban center characterized by post-war architectural development and cultural diversity. People are drawn to Hérouville-Saint-Clair for its unique blend of urban amenities, proximity to the historic city of Caen, and easy access to the Normandy coastline. The municipality is well-known for its strong commitment to the arts, boasting notable cultural institutions such as the Café des Images cinema and the Comédie de Caen.

About Normandie

Normandy, France, is characterized by its picturesque blend of rolling countryside, historic towns, and a significant coastline along the English Channel. The economy is diverse, with strong agricultural roots, particularly in dairy, cider, and seafood production, alongside robust industrial sectors like automotive, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and logistics concentrated around the Seine Valley and major cities such as Rouen, Caen, and Le Havre. Living in Normandy generally offers a relaxed pace of life with a moderate cost of living compared to other French regions, with housing being notably more affordable than in Paris. The climate is mild and temperate, experiencing humidity and precipitation throughout the year, with cool summers and wet winters.

22,500
Population
$29K
Avg Salary
88
Cost Index
47.7
Quality Score
How this 48/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 65 / 100 65.0 30% 19.5
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 88.0 58.8 25% 14.7
Economy & jobs Median household income: $23,500 Income needed to live here: $25,000 Unemployment rate: 14.5% 8.8 20% 1.8
Growth Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 0.8% 36.0 15% 5.4
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 64 / 100 64.0 10% 6.4
Overall score 47.7

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Quality Scores

Business
64
Livability
72
Affordability
78
Growth
67

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Hérouville-Saint-Clair is generally moderate, aligning closely with regional averages in Normandy and remaining somewhat lower than the national average in Paris. Housing costs, including both rental apartments and real estate purchases, are typically more accessible compared to major metropolitan hubs, making it an attractive option for families and young professionals. Everyday expenses such as groceries, local dining, and public transportation reflect standard French regional pricing, helping to maintain a manageable overall cost of living.

Average Rent
$850/mo
Groceries
$380/mo
Transport
$65/mo
Utilities
$160/mo
Healthcare
$150/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$40.00
Cinema ticket
$11.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$18.00
Monthly groceries
$350.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$30.00

Salary Insights

The local economy of Hérouville-Saint-Clair is closely integrated with the broader Caen metropolitan area, benefiting from a diverse economic base. Major employment sectors in the region include education, healthcare, public administration, retail, and light manufacturing or technology services linked to nearby research hubs. While many residents commute into central Caen for employment, Hérouville-Saint-Clair itself hosts numerous local businesses, shopping centers, and service providers that sustain the local job market.

The average salary in Hérouville-Saint-Clair is $28,500 per year. You would need approximately $25,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Retail & Commerce +1.00% Public Administration & Education +0.50% Healthcare & Social Services +1.50% Business & Professional Services +1.80% Construction & Light Industry +0.90%

Climate

🌡️
12°C
Avg Temp
☀️
22°C
Summer High
❄️
3°C
Winter Low
🌧️
33.40"
Annual Rain
💧
80.00%
Humidity
🌤️
230
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Hérouville-Saint-Clair is highly efficient, anchored by the comprehensive public transit network managed by Twisto, which serves Caen and its surrounding municipalities. Bus lines and tram connections provide seamless travel throughout the urban area, while major roadways offer quick access to the regional highway network. The city is also pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, encouraging active mobility for daily commutes and errands.

24 min
Avg Commute
65.00/10
Transit Score
70.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Affordable housing options compared to Paris and central Caen real estate markets.
Strong cultural infrastructure including the Comédie de Caen and Café des Images.
Efficient public transit connections linking directly into the greater Caen network.
Abundant green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities for families.
Proximity to the historic city of Caen and the Normandy coastline.
Drawbacks
Higher local unemployment rates relative to the national French average.
Certain neighborhoods experience socio-economic challenges requiring ongoing urban renewal.
Heavy reliance on neighboring Caen for specialized employment and advanced medical care.
Post-war architectural style lacks the historic charm found in older Norman villages.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours on arterial routes toward Caen.

Questions about Hérouville-Saint-Clair

What people ask about living in and moving to Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Normandie.

Gathering the most common questions about Hérouville-Saint-Clair…

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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