City Comparison
Swartz Creek vs Southfield
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Swartz Creek scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Swartz Creek
Southfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Swartz Creek is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Southfield.
Housing costs are a major driver: Swartz Creek's average rent is
14% lower than Southfield's.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Southfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $1,450 | -14% |
| Groceries | $380 | $410 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $130 | -15% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $240 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,145 | $2,405 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 96 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Southfield offers 9% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Southfield 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 $52,000 in Southfield.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Southfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $68,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 70,833 idx |
| Household Income | $64,500 | $74,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Southfield sees 3.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Southfield |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.70°F | 49.80°F |
| Summer High | 80.20°F | 82.00°F |
| Winter Low | 16.50°F | 17.40°F |
| Rainfall | 30.20 in | 32.40 in |
| Snowfall | 33.60 in | 36.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | 246 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Southfield 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 | Southfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Southfield 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.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | Southfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,700 | 76,500 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| 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.
Southfield
Advantages
Strategic location in Oakland County with direct access to major freeways like I-696 and US-10
Robust commercial hub hosting numerous corporate headquarters and professional service firms
Diverse and welcoming community with strong cultural representation and active local engagement
Excellent healthcare infrastructure anchored by Ascension Providence Hospital
More affordable housing options compared to neighboring affluent Oakland County communities
Drawbacks
High car dependency with limited walkability and transit scores outside central corridors
Property tax rates can be relatively high compared to some surrounding townships
Traffic congestion along major commuter arteries during peak rush hours
Varying crime rates and safety profiles depending on the specific neighborhood
Older housing stock in some areas may require significant maintenance or updates
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
Southfield
#282Michigan, USA
61.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
246/yr
Avg Temp
49.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
73
Business
70
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