City Comparison
Burnaby vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Burnaby scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Burnaby
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Swartz Creek is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Burnaby.
Housing costs are a major driver: Burnaby's average rent is
84% higher than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Burnaby | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,300 | $1,250 | +84% |
| Groceries | $0 | $380 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $175 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $110 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $230 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,300 | $2,145 | +7% |
| Cost Index | 69 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Burnaby is estimated at
$77,712 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Burnaby | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $77,712 | $48,000 |
| Household Income | $83,000 | $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 | Burnaby | 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 | 75.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
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 | Burnaby | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 23.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Burnaby is the larger city
— approximately 43.7x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Burnaby 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 | Burnaby | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 249,125 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 7.00% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 6.91% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Burnaby
Advantages
Burnaby's crime rates are 28% lower than the British Columbia average.
The city has an exceptional Livability Score of 84/100.
Burnaby has one of the highest ratios of park land to residents in North America, with 25% of its land designated as parks and open spaces.
The city is a major employment center within the Lower Mainland, with significant job growth in professional, scientific, and technical services.
Burnaby offers convenient public transit with 11 SkyTrain stations and an extensive bus system.
Drawbacks
Burnaby has some of the highest rents in Canada, second only to Vancouver.
Despite a decline in 2024, rents are still 16.8% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The competitive housing market and high cost of living can be challenging for residents.
The average days on market for detached homes in Burnaby jumped to 51 days in December 2024, up from 19 in November.
While the infrastructure is dependable, the pace of life is more functional than cosmopolitan.
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.
Burnaby
#23British Columbia, Canada
67.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,300
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
69
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
7.00%
Unemployment
6.91%
Livability
84
Business
0
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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