City Comparison
Papakura vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Papakura scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Papakura
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Papakura is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
53% lower than in Grants Pass.
Housing costs are a major driver: Papakura's average rent is
73% lower than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Papakura | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $390 | $1,450 | -73% |
| Groceries | $450 | $450 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $400 | -55% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $60 | $150 | -60% |
| Monthly Total | $1,200 | $2,570 | -53% |
| Cost Index | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Grants Pass offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Papakura is estimated at
$55,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Papakura | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $58,000 |
| Household Income | $39,540 | $59,646 |
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Papakura.
Grants Pass scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Grants Pass leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Papakura | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | — | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Grants Pass is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Papakura.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Papakura has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Papakura | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,700 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 5.08% | 5.60% |
| GDP | $3.2B | — |
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.
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.
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
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
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