City Comparison
Papakura vs Binghamton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Papakura scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Papakura
Binghamton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Papakura is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
47% lower than in Binghamton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Papakura's average rent is
66% lower than Binghamton's.
| Metric | Papakura | Binghamton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $390 | $1,138 | -66% |
| Groceries | $450 | $404 | +11% |
| Utilities | $180 | $194 | -7% |
| Transport | $120 | $312 | -62% |
| Healthcare | $60 | $226 | -73% |
| Monthly Total | $1,200 | $2,274 | -47% |
| Cost Index | 110 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Binghamton offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Papakura is estimated at
$55,000 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
| Metric | Papakura | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $55,000 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $45,000 |
| Household Income | $39,540 | $45,578 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Papakura runs warmer on average — a 60.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Papakura comes out ahead with 211 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Papakura sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Papakura | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 60.50°F | °F |
| Summer High | 58.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 60.00°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 61.60 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 211 | |
| Humidity | 82.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Binghamton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,000 minutes (100 hours) per year compared to Papakura.
Binghamton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Binghamton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Papakura | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | — | 33.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Binghamton is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Papakura.
From a growth perspective, Binghamton 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 | Papakura | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,700 | 46,773 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 5.08% | 4.30% |
| GDP | $3.2B | $13.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Papakura
Advantages
More affordable rental market compared to central Auckland, with median weekly rent for houses around $650-$680 NZD (approx. $390-$408 USD) as of May 2026.
Strong community focus and family-friendly atmosphere.
Significant economic growth in financial and insurance services, education and training, and transport, postal, and warehousing sectors between 2024 and 2025.
Decreasing crime rates, with 37,000 fewer victims of violent crime reported as of September 2026.
Good access to public transport, including train services connecting to Auckland's CBD.
Drawbacks
Some areas within Papakura, such as Papakura Central, have a higher crime rate compared to other suburbs in Auckland.
Car dependency is medium to high due to the suburban layout.
The average house value in Papakura decreased by 3.7% from April 2024 to April 2026.
Limited rental data available for some aspects of the housing market.
Median household income in the Papakura Local Board Area was $65,900 NZD (approx. $39,540 USD) in 2013, which may be lower than other Auckland areas.
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.
Papakura
#49Auckland, New Zealand
55.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$390
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
211/yr
Avg Temp
60.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.08%
Livability
74
Business
68
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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