French Personal and Household Income Data at Granular Level

French Personal and Household Income Data at Granular Level

Making smart, location-based decisions requires a clear understanding of how people live, earn, and spend. Access to high-resolution French income data at IRIS level allows businesses, researchers, and policymakers to analyse household purchasing power and consumer spending capacity with precision.

The IRIS level in France is the standard way of dividing cities, towns, and rural areas into small neighbourhood-sized zones for statistics. Each IRIS usually covers between 1,800 and 5,000 people, making it much more detailed than a whole town or district.

From cities like Paris, Lyon, and Nantes to small towns and rural regions, French micro-level income data makes income distribution visible in ways that national or regional averages cannot show.

Geographic location data can be found on the Geolocet website.

Contents

  1. Why Income Data at IRIS Level Matters
  2. Beyond Averages – Income Bands for Fine-Grained Insight
  3. Combining Income with Demographics – Deeper Consumer Insight
  4. Applications Across Sectors
  5. Where to Access French Income Data
  6. Turn Data into Decisions

Why Income Data at IRIS Level Matters

French income indicators at IRIS level provide three essential measures:

  • Personal income – salaries, pensions, and benefits earned by individuals.
  • Household income – combined income of all members within a household.
  • Disposable household income – income remaining after taxes and social contributions, revealing true purchasing power.

By examining these indicators, organisations gain a comprehensive picture of French income distribution by IRIS. This supports decision-making in retail site selection, real estate planning, public services, and market analysis using French micro data.

Beyond Averages – Income Bands for Fine-Grained Insight

Income bands show income groups by range, enabling:

  • Identification of neighbourhoods with concentrations of low- or high-income households.
  • A nuanced view of consumer spending power at micro-level.
  • Comparative analysis between different IRIS zones.

This allows us to see how income distribution differs sharply across settlement types — for example, high-income clusters in city centres, mixed income profiles across the suburban belt, and distinct patterns of disposable household income in rural France.

We will now compare several areas across France: Paris, Lyon, Nantes, and the rural department of Creuse.

Paris and the Surrounding Area

Paris displays one of Europe’s most distinct social geographies, with an area of wealth curving through the centre and west of the city. The elegant arrondissements surrounding the Seine form the heart of Paris — home to Haussmannian apartments, embassies, and high-end shops. This concentration of wealth extends beyond the city limits into the western suburbs, notably Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt, and Versailles.

In contrast, the northern and eastern quarters are more working-class and ethnically diverse. This pattern continues into the outer northern department of Seine-Saint-Denis, long associated with industrial decline and lower incomes.

The divide dates back to the nineteenth century, when factories were pushed north and east by prevailing winds, while the bourgeoisie settled in the cleaner west. This historical geography remains visible today.

Paris IRIS income map

Lyon and the Surrounding Area

Lyon’s social structure follows a west-to-east gradient. The western hills — Monts d’Or, Écully, Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, and others — are home to affluent residents, while the east, including Villeurbanne, Bron, and Vaulx-en-Velin, features more modest incomes and denser populations.

The Saône valley and hills to the west have long been prestigious, while the eastern plain provided space for factories and social housing, resulting in a lasting social divide.

Lyon IRIS income map

Nantes and the Surrounding Area

Nantes shows a more concentric social pattern. The gentrified city centre includes some lower income areas, particularly around the Île de Nantes. Prosperity increases towards the north and east, especially in neighbourhoods like Saint-Félix, Procé, Orvault, and Carquefou.

Nantes IRIS income map

The Department of Creuse

Creuse is a largely rural and lower-income department. It has an older population, limited employment opportunities, and a high rate of youth out-migration. Property prices and living costs are low, and even the top income earners in Creuse earn far less than those in wealthier regions.

Creuse IRIS income map

Combining Income with Demographics – Deeper Consumer Insight

Income alone tells part of the story. When combined with demographic variables, French demographic income datasets unlock a richer picture of how people live and spend. Different combinations of income and population characteristics reveal distinct patterns of demand:

  • High income + young families – demand for housing, education, childcare, and leisure.
  • High income + older populations – higher spending on healthcare, travel, and premium services.
  • Lower income + younger singles – demand for affordable housing, entertainment, and value-focused retail.
  • Mixed income + diverse households – suburban belts requiring adaptive strategies.

By layering IRIS income data with demographics, organisations can identify not just where purchasing power lies, but how it is likely to be used.

French demographic data can be found on the Geolocet website, or contact us to create a tailored solution.

Applications Across Sectors

French household income datasets at IRIS level support a wide range of applications:

  • Retail & Real Estate: Identify areas for premium vs value strategies using French income geospatial data.
  • Market Segmentation: Profile consumers by income band, disposable income, and geography.
  • Public Policy & Planning: Target resources where low-income households face service constraints.
  • Community & Inequality Analysis: Map areas of high and low household purchasing power with fine-grained income distribution data.

France income distribution map

Where to Access French Income Data

For access to detailed French income by IRIS datasets – covering personal, household, and disposable household income – you can source data from Geolocet. These datasets are designed for location intelligence, retail site selection, public policy analysis, and regional market insights across France.

Contact us for access to French household income datasets that provide the precision needed for both academic research and business strategy.

Turn Data into Decisions

From analysing consumer spending power in Paris to mapping income distribution in rural areas, micro-level French income data gives decision-makers the evidence needed for smarter strategies. Whether for market analysis, public policy design, or retail site selection, this data transforms complexity into clarity.

Access high-resolution French income data at IRIS level.

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