City Comparison
St. Albert vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
St. Albert scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
St. Albert
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
St. Albert is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | St. Albert | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,250 | -8% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $160 | $175 | -9% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,060 | $2,145 | -4% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
St. Albert 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 St. Albert is estimated at
$52,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | St. Albert | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,667 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $82,500 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 9.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, St. Albert comes out ahead with 19 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — St. Albert sees 10.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | St. Albert | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 39.20°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 71.20°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 0.70°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 20.10 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 43.90 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 251 |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
St. Albert scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | St. Albert | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
St. Albert is the larger city
— approximately 12x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, St. Albert 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 | St. Albert | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,576 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.60% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
St. Albert
Advantages
Consistently ranks among the safest cities in Canada with low violent and property crime rates per Statistics Canada.
Extensive 85+ km Red Willow Park trail system offering exceptional outdoor recreation and nature access.
Alberta's tax structure features no provincial retail sales tax, reducing everyday purchasing burdens.
Home to Western Canada's largest outdoor farmers' market, driving vibrant local culture and commerce.
Top-performing local school divisions with high student achievement and robust extracurricular programs.
Drawbacks
Higher-than-average housing and rental costs driven by strong regional demand.
Car dependency is high for daily commuting, with limited rapid transit rail options.
Cold winter climate with extended periods of freezing temperatures requiring dedicated winter preparation.
Many residents must commute outside city limits for specialized employment sectors in Edmonton.
Property taxes tend to be relatively elevated to support local municipal infrastructure and services.
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.
St. Albert
#16Alberta, Canada
69.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
270/yr
Avg Temp
39.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
85
Business
72
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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