City Comparison
Hamm 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
Hamm
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hamm is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Hamm's average rent is
12% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Hamm | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,100 | $1,250 | -12% |
| Groceries | $400 | $380 | +5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $175 | +3% |
| Transport | $90 | $110 | -18% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,990 | $2,145 | -7% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 23% 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 Hamm is estimated at
$42,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Hamm | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 50,526 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $45,000 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.6°F of each other.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 11 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 26 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Hamm | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.30°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 72.30°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 33.50°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 30.20 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 7.60 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 240 | 251 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Hamm scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Hamm leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Hamm | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 82.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Hamm is the larger city
— approximately 6.8x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Hamm is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Hamm has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Hamm | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,871 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Hamm
Advantages
Median rental prices in Hamm are significantly lower than the broader Hamburg average per official municipal rent indexes.
Exceptional public transit connectivity allows commutes to downtown Hamburg in under 15 minutes via U-Bahn and S-Bahn.
Abundant green spaces, including Hammer Park and the Bille riverbanks, provide strong outdoor recreational opportunities.
A thriving multicultural culinary scene and local cultural hubs like Fabrik der Künste enrich the neighborhood character.
Extensive bicycle infrastructure and high walkability reduce reliance on private vehicles.
Drawbacks
Taxable household incomes and average earnings are noticeably lower than the broader Hamburg municipal average.
Higher population density and compact apartment layouts limit options for large families seeking spacious housing.
Certain pockets experience localized property crime and minor urban friction common to inner-city transit corridors.
The tight rental market makes securing desirable apartments highly competitive despite lower base prices.
The district lacks high-end luxury retail and upscale entertainment venues found in central Hamburg.
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.
Hamm
#71Hamburg, Germany
58.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,100
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
82.0/100
Sunny Days
240/yr
Avg Temp
51.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
74
Business
68
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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