City Comparison
Barrie vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Barrie scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Barrie
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Swartz Creek is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
10% lower than in Barrie.
Housing costs are a major driver: Barrie's average rent is
34% higher than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Barrie | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,669 | $1,250 | +34% |
| Groceries | $450 | $380 | +18% |
| Utilities | $182 | $175 | +4% |
| Transport | $90 | $110 | -18% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $230 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,391 | $2,145 | +11% |
| Cost Index | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 19% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Barrie is estimated at
$66,756 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Barrie | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $50,212 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $66,756 | $48,000 |
| Household Income | $73,434 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 48.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 251 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 33.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Barrie | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | °F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | |
| Humidity | % | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Barrie has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek.
Swartz Creek scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Swartz Creek leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Barrie | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Barrie is the larger city
— approximately 29.7x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Barrie is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Swartz Creek has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Barrie | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,419 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 9.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Barrie
Advantages
Barrie has been consistently ranked as one of Canada's safest cities, with a Crime Severity Index significantly below the national average.
The city is experiencing strong population growth, projected to nearly double by 2051, indicating a dynamic and expanding community.
Housing costs in Barrie are considerably lower than in the Greater Toronto Area, offering more affordable homeownership opportunities.
Its prime location on Kempenfelt Bay provides extensive waterfront access, beaches, and outdoor recreational activities year-round.
The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is a major regional hospital and Level III trauma centre, ensuring high-quality healthcare access.
Drawbacks
Barrie experienced a relatively high unemployment rate of 9.2% in April 2026, which is above the national average.
A significant portion of Barrie's working residents commute to the Greater Toronto Area, leading to longer commute times for many.
Rental prices in Barrie are slightly above the Canadian national average, impacting affordability for renters.
While efforts are underway, the current job market requires further development to meet the needs of its growing population and reduce out-of-city commuting.
Specific public transit and walkability scores are not readily available, suggesting potential areas for improvement in urban mobility infrastructure.
Swartz Creek
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the national average per US Census Bureau data.
Consistently low crime rates provide an exceptionally safe environment for families and retirees.
Highly rated local school district offering robust academic and extracurricular programs.
Convenient geographic location with direct access to I-69, facilitating easy commutes to Flint and Lansing.
Active community parks and recreational programming that foster strong local engagement.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal automobiles due to limited public transportation infrastructure.
Fewer high-paying local corporate headquarters within city limits, requiring outbound commuting for certain professional sectors.
Limited nightlife and entertainment venues directly within the city center.
Winters bring heavy snowfall averaging over 33 inches, requiring consistent snow removal efforts.
Modest pace of new commercial development compared to larger surrounding suburbs.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Barrie
#28Ontario, Canada
65.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,669
Avg Salary
$50,212
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
9.20%
Livability
75
Business
65
Swartz Creek
#146Michigan, USA
65.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
251/yr
Avg Temp
48.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
78
Business
68
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