City Comparison
Swartz Creek vs Flint
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Swartz Creek scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Swartz Creek
Flint
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Flint is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Swartz Creek's average rent is
32% higher than Flint's.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Flint | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $950 | +32% |
| Groceries | $380 | $360 | +6% |
| Utilities | $175 | $250 | -30% |
| Transport | $110 | $150 | -27% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $200 | +15% |
| Monthly Total | $2,145 | $1,910 | +12% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 78 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 158% 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 Swartz Creek is estimated at
$48,000 vs $35,000 in Flint.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Flint |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $23,997 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $35,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 30,765 idx |
| Household Income | $64,500 | $37,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 39.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 79 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Flint sees 86.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Flint |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.70°F | 9.00°F |
| Summer High | 80.20°F | 27.00°F |
| Winter Low | 16.50°F | -9.00°F |
| Rainfall | 30.20 in | 810.00 in |
| Snowfall | 33.60 in | 120.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | 172 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 72.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Flint scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Flint leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Flint |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 50.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 50.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Flint is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Swartz Creek 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 | Swartz Creek | Flint |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,700 | 80,175 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | -0.10% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 13.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Flint
Advantages
The cost of living in Flint is significantly lower than the national average, making it highly affordable.
Housing costs, including both rent and property values, are considerably more affordable in Flint compared to many other U.S. cities.
Flint is home to important cultural institutions like the Flint Cultural Center, offering artistic and educational attractions.
The city has a strong healthcare infrastructure with three major regional hospitals providing comprehensive medical services.
Employment in Flint saw a growth rate of 2.45% from 2023 to 2024, indicating some positive job market movement.
Drawbacks
Flint has a very high crime rate, with a safety score of 18/100 and violent crime rates significantly above the national average in 2024.
The unemployment rate in Flint was 13.1% in 2026, which is considerably higher than the national average.
A substantial portion of Flint's population, 34.1% in 2024, lives below the poverty line.
Concerns about water quality persist among residents, as highlighted in 2024 community surveys.
The city has experienced a long-term population decline, with the metropolitan area decreasing by 5.3% between 2010 and 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Flint
#600Michigan, USA
40.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$23,997
Cost Index
78
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
50.0/100
Walkability
50.0/100
Sunny Days
172/yr
Avg Temp
9.00°F
Pop. Growth
-0.10%
Unemployment
13.10%
Livability
74
Business
0
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