City Comparison
Barrie vs Watertown
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Massachusetts, USA
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Barrie scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Barrie
Watertown
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Barrie | Watertown | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,669 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $450 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $182 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $90 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,391 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Barrie offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Barrie | Watertown |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $50,212 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $66,756 | $0 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Barrie | Watertown |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
| Metric | Barrie | Watertown |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | min |
| Transit Score | — | — |
| Walkability | — | — |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Barrie is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Barrie is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Watertown has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Barrie | Watertown |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,419 | 0 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | — |
| Median Age | 39.8 | |
| Unemployment | 9.20% | % |
| 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.
Watertown
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
Watertown
Massachusetts, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
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