City Comparison
Swartz Creek vs Newcastle
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Newcastle scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Swartz Creek
Newcastle
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Newcastle | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,145 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 54% higher average salaries.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $40,332 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $64,500 | $82,734 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 48.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 251 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 33.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 16.50°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 30.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 33.60 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Swartz Creek has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Newcastle.
Swartz Creek scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Swartz Creek leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Swartz Creek is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Newcastle.
From a growth perspective, Swartz Creek is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Newcastle has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,700 | 3,349 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | — |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 38.6 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 0.40% |
| 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.
Newcastle
Advantages
The cost of living in Newcastle is well below the national average, making it an affordable place to reside.
Newcastle has significantly lower crime rates than both the Wyoming and national averages, contributing to a safe environment.
The housing market in Newcastle is strong, with high scores in affordability and appreciation rates.
The unemployment rate in Newcastle is very low at 0.4% as of 2024, indicating a healthy job market.
Residents of Newcastle enjoy a shorter average commute time to work compared to many other U.S. neighborhoods.
Drawbacks
Amenities in Newcastle are not always within walking distance, requiring residents to often rely on a vehicle.
The health and safety category received a less than perfect score, potentially due to limited accessibility of health-related facilities.
The population of Newcastle has seen a slight decline since the most recent census in 2020.
The percentage of uninsured citizens in Newcastle increased slightly from 2023 to 2024.
While public transit exists, car dependency is likely medium to high due to the sparse suburban feel and limited walkability.
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
Newcastle
#1Wyoming, USA
88.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$40,332
Cost Index
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
0.40%
Livability
72
Business
0
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