City Comparison
Burlington vs Bay City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Burlington scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Burlington
Bay City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Bay City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
17% lower than in Burlington.
Housing costs are a major driver: Burlington's average rent is
72% higher than Bay City's.
| Metric | Burlington | Bay City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,635 | $950 | +72% |
| Groceries | $330 | $380 | -13% |
| Utilities | $111 | $175 | -37% |
| Transport | $72 | $110 | -35% |
| Healthcare | $70 | $230 | -70% |
| Monthly Total | $2,218 | $1,845 | +20% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Bay City offers 4% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Bay City delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Burlington is estimated at
$58,490 vs $42,000 in Bay City.
| Metric | Burlington | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,679 | $52,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,490 | $42,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 58,446 idx | 61,176 idx |
| Household Income | $77,330 | $48,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Bay City runs warmer on average — a 48.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Bay City comes out ahead with 258 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Bay City sees 34.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Burlington | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.80°F |
| Summer High | °F | 79.90°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.80°F |
| Rainfall | in | 29.50 in |
| Snowfall | in | 34.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 258 | |
| Humidity | 70.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bay City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Burlington.
Burlington scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Burlington leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Burlington | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 50.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 65.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 55.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Burlington is the larger city
— approximately 6.1x the population of Bay City.
From a growth perspective, Burlington is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bay City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Burlington | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 198,805 | 32,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.54% | — |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 41.5 |
| Unemployment | 6.91% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Burlington
Advantages
Consistently ranked as a top livable city in Canada, with 95% of residents rating their quality of life as 'Good' or 'Excellent'.
Strong and diversified economy with key industries including Advanced Manufacturing, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and IT Communications.
Strategic location within the Golden Horseshoe, offering excellent transportation links to major cities like Toronto.
Abundant natural attractions, including Lake Ontario waterfront, the Niagara Escarpment, and numerous parks and trails.
Access to high-quality healthcare services through Joseph Brant Hospital, a comprehensive community teaching hospital.
Drawbacks
Cost of living is higher than the Canadian national average, particularly for housing.
Average rent for apartments is relatively high, with a 1-bedroom averaging $1,406 USD and a 2-bedroom averaging $1,684 USD.
While generally safe, some residents in 2024 expressed concerns about a perceived decline in safety.
Car dependency is medium, and specific public transit and walkability scores are not widely published, suggesting reliance on personal vehicles for many areas.
Limited number of general hospitals, with Joseph Brant Hospital being the primary facility for the city.
Bay City
Advantages
Median home prices in Bay City are significantly lower than the national average per recent housing market data.
Abundant waterfront access along the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay supports a strong boating and outdoor recreation culture.
Rich architectural heritage featuring expansive historic districts with preserved 19th-century Victorian homes.
Low overall cost of living indices allow residents to enjoy greater financial affordability on everyday goods and utilities.
Active downtown district featuring local dining, craft beverage makers, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cold, snowy winters require residents to adapt to significant seasonal snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transit infrastructure creates a high reliance on personal automobiles for daily transportation.
Job growth in certain traditional sectors has lagged behind larger metropolitan areas in Michigan.
Higher poverty rates in specific city neighborhoods compared to the broader suburban county areas.
Cooler spring and autumn shoulder seasons shorten the peak window for outdoor activities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Burlington
#46Ontario, Canada
61.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,635
Avg Salary
$49,679
Cost Index
85
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
50.0/100
Walkability
65.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.54%
Unemployment
6.91%
Livability
78
Business
70
Bay City
#401Michigan, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
72
Business
65
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