City Comparison
New Westminster vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
New Westminster scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
New Westminster
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
10% lower than in New Westminster.
Housing costs are a major driver: New Westminster's average rent is
32% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | New Westminster | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,920 | $1,450 | +32% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $400 | -56% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $150 | +47% |
| Monthly Total | $2,845 | $2,570 | +11% |
| Cost Index | 118 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Grants Pass offers 15% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Grants Pass 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 $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | New Westminster | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,900 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 46,525 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $82,000 | $59,646 |
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 78.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 82.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 54.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New Westminster is the larger city
— approximately 2x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, New Westminster is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Grants Pass has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | New Westminster | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 78,916 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.60% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 6.40% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
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.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between New Westminster and Grants Pass.
Open Cost Calculator