City Comparison
Davison vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Swartz Creek scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Davison
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Davison is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
5% lower than in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Davison | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,250 | -8% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $110 | +5% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,040 | $2,145 | -5% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 6% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Swartz Creek delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Davison is estimated at
$48,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Davison | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,909 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $61,500 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Davison sees 2.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Davison | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.70°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 80.70°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 16.10°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 30.90 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 35.70 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 | 251 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Davison scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Davison leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Davison | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Swartz Creek is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Davison.
From a growth perspective, Davison is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Davison | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,150 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Davison
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the national average per US Census and Zillow data.
Highly rated local school district that attracts families seeking quality education in a small-town setting.
Low crime rates and a strong community safety profile compared to larger nearby metropolitan areas.
Charming and walkable historic downtown area featuring local boutiques, dining, and seasonal community events.
Convenient geographic location with easy access to I-69, providing straightforward commutes to Flint and surrounding employment centers.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal automobiles due to limited public transportation infrastructure within the city.
Limited local high-paying corporate headquarters, requiring many residents to commute for specialized career opportunities.
Winters bring heavy snowfall averaging over 35 inches annually, requiring active snow removal and winter preparedness.
Limited nightlife and entertainment options within city limits, necessitating trips to larger neighboring cities for major events.
Modest job growth rate within the immediate municipal boundaries compared to high-growth tech or financial hubs.
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.
Davison
#175Michigan, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
245/yr
Avg Temp
48.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
76
Business
67
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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