City Comparison
Markham 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
Markham
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Swartz Creek is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
26% lower than in Markham.
Housing costs are a major driver: Markham's average rent is
56% higher than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Markham | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,950 | $1,250 | +56% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $110 | +5% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,880 | $2,145 | +34% |
| Cost Index | 118 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Markham offers 10% higher 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 Markham is estimated at
$60,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Markham | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 57,627 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $85,000 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.7°F of each other.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 12 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Markham sees 19.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Markham | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.00°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 80.00°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 15.10°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 32.30 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 52.80 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 239 | 251 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Swartz Creek has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Markham.
Markham scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Markham leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Markham | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 54.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 56.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Markham is the larger city
— approximately 59.4x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Markham 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 | Markham | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 338,503 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 6.80% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Markham
Advantages
Recognized as Canada's high-tech capital with over 1,000 technology companies providing robust employment opportunities.
Consistently ranks among the safest large municipalities in Canada with low violent crime rates.
Exceptional ethnic and cultural diversity reflected in world-class dining, festivals, and community programs.
Access to top-tier public education systems and high-performing schools across York Region.
Extensive parks, green spaces, and recreational facilities supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and housing prices compared to the national Canadian average.
High degree of car dependency in suburban neighborhoods leading to notable commuter traffic on major arteries.
Competitive rental market with elevated monthly costs for apartments and townhouses.
Property tax rates and municipal fees reflect the suburban infrastructure maintenance costs.
Cold winter climate featuring significant annual snowfall requires regular winter maintenance.
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.
Markham
#45Ontario, Canada
61.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,950
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
118
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
54.0/100
Sunny Days
239/yr
Avg Temp
47.00°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
6.80%
Livability
83
Business
84
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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