City Comparison
New Westminster vs Binghamton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
New Westminster scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
New Westminster
Binghamton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Binghamton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
20% lower than in New Westminster.
Housing costs are a major driver: New Westminster's average rent is
69% higher than Binghamton's.
| Metric | New Westminster | Binghamton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,920 | $1,138 | +69% |
| Groceries | $420 | $404 | +4% |
| Utilities | $175 | $194 | -10% |
| Transport | $110 | $312 | -65% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $226 | -3% |
| Monthly Total | $2,845 | $2,274 | +25% |
| Cost Index | 118 | 110 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Binghamton offers similar average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Binghamton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in New Westminster is estimated at
$52,000 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
| Metric | New Westminster | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,900 | $55,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 46,525 idx | 50,000 idx |
| Household Income | $82,000 | $45,578 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
New Westminster runs warmer on average — a 51.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, New Westminster comes out ahead with 210 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — New Westminster sees 33.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | New Westminster | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 74.40°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 32.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 68.90 in | in |
| Snowfall | 33.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 210 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Binghamton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
7,500 minutes (125 hours) per year compared to New Westminster.
New Westminster scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New Westminster leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | New Westminster | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 78.0/100 | 33.0/100 |
| Walkability | 82.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 54.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New Westminster is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Binghamton.
From a growth perspective, New Westminster is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Binghamton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | New Westminster | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 78,916 | 46,773 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.60% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 6.40% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | $13.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
New Westminster
Advantages
Median one-bedroom apartment rent averages around $1,920, offering competitive positioning relative to central Vancouver core pricing.
Exceptional regional transit connectivity via multiple SkyTrain stations on the Expo Line providing direct access across Metro Vancouver.
Home to the heavily expanded Royal Columbian Hospital, providing world-class tertiary and trauma medical services locally.
High urban walkability scores and extensive riverfront boardwalk systems supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Rich historical character blended with modern transit-oriented urban village developments throughout downtown and Uptown.
Drawbacks
Local job growth has historically lagged behind rapid population expansion, resulting in a low jobs-to-population ratio and high outbound commuting.
Overall cost of living remains significantly elevated compared to the Canadian national average due to regional housing pressures.
Limited availability of single-family detached housing stock pushes families toward high-density strata and condo living.
Traffic congestion along key regional corridors linking Burnaby, Coquitlam, and Surrey during peak hours.
Rental vacancy rates remain tight across Metro Vancouver, creating competitive conditions for incoming tenants.
Binghamton
Advantages
The average commute time in Binghamton is relatively short at 16 minutes, offering more personal time.
Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, with a median home price of $194,000 as of December 2025.
The presence of Binghamton University provides a vibrant cultural scene and educational opportunities.
The city's economy is diversifying with growth in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Binghamton offers access to natural landscapes and outdoor recreational activities due to its river confluence and surrounding hills.
Drawbacks
Binghamton has a high crime rate, with total crime being 86% higher than the national average based on 2024 FBI data.
The unemployment rate in Binghamton was 4.3% in 2026, slightly higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, as indicated by a Transit Score of 33 for Downtown Binghamton.
Despite some positive economic indicators, the Binghamton metro area experienced a 2.8% population decrease over a 10-year period leading up to 2024.
Drug-related crime remains a significant concern in the Binghamton area, despite a decrease in overdose rates.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
New Westminster
#56British Columbia, Canada
58.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,920
Avg Salary
$54,900
Cost Index
118
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
78.0/100
Walkability
82.0/100
Sunny Days
210/yr
Avg Temp
51.90°F
Pop. Growth
2.60%
Unemployment
6.40%
Livability
78
Business
70
Binghamton
#603New York, USA
38.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,138
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
110
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
33.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
68
Business
60
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