City Comparison
Swartz Creek vs Pontiac
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Swartz Creek scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Swartz Creek
Pontiac
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Swartz Creek is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
2% lower than in Pontiac.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Pontiac | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $1,250 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $150 | -27% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,145 | $2,185 | -2% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 15% 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 $48,000 in Pontiac.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Pontiac |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $54,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 61,364 idx |
| Household Income | $64,500 | $46,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.4°F of each other.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 11 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Pontiac sees 3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Pontiac |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.70°F | 49.10°F |
| Summer High | 80.20°F | 80.50°F |
| Winter Low | 16.50°F | 16.90°F |
| Rainfall | 30.20 in | 31.70 in |
| Snowfall | 33.60 in | 36.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | 240 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Swartz Creek has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Pontiac.
Pontiac scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Pontiac leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Pontiac |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 51.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Pontiac 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 | Pontiac |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,700 | 61,606 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.40% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 5.80% |
| 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.
Pontiac
Advantages
Median home prices in Pontiac remain significantly below the Oakland County average per Zillow 2024 data.
Proximity to major regional employment corridors along the I-75 loop and Metro Detroit.
Abundant outdoor recreation access via the Clinton River Trail and local parks.
Active downtown revitalization and historic preservation efforts led by local stakeholders.
Diverse community culture with frequent local festivals and neighborhood events.
Drawbacks
Property crime rates in certain neighborhoods remain above the national average per FBI crime data.
Public transportation options outside of primary bus routes are limited, requiring car ownership.
Public school district performance metrics lag behind wealthier surrounding townships.
Certain commercial corridors feature vacant properties awaiting redevelopment.
State Equalized Value and property tax structures can create financial burdens for homeowners.
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
Pontiac
#551Michigan, USA
48.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
51.0/100
Sunny Days
240/yr
Avg Temp
49.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
5.80%
Livability
61
Business
63
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