City Comparison
Lerma vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lerma scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lerma
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lerma is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
81% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lerma's average rent is
67% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Lerma | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $412 | $1,250 | -67% |
| Groceries | $0 | $380 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $175 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $110 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $230 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $412 | $2,145 | -81% |
| Cost Index | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Lerma | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $48,000 |
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 | Lerma | 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
Lerma has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek.
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 | Lerma | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Swartz Creek is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Swartz Creek is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lerma has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lerma | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 0 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | |
| Unemployment | 2.67% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lerma
Advantages
Affordable rental market with 1BR apartments around $412 USD per month [18, 25, 27].
Coastal location with beaches and scenic waterfront areas offering a relaxed lifestyle [5, 6].
Rich maritime history and cultural traditions, including local festivals and a fishing heritage [4, 5, 11].
Part of regional development plans aimed at boosting tourism and gastronomy, particularly seafood [38, 40].
Presence of Hospital Vossan, a reference healthcare facility in the area [13].
Drawbacks
Lack of recent (2024+) demographic data, including population, median age, income, and unemployment rates.
Limited specific data on cost of living beyond rent, including food, utilities, and transport.
Public transportation system faces challenges with transfers and service frequency, impacting daily commutes [12, 15, 16].
No specific safety scores or crime statistics available for Lerma, Campeche.
Limited detailed information on the housing market beyond rental listings, such as price trends or buying opportunities.
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.
Lerma
#146Campeche, Mexico
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$412
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
2.67%
Livability
65
Business
50
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Lerma and Swartz Creek.
Open Cost Calculator