City Comparison
Swartz Creek vs St. Clair Shores
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
St. Clair Shores scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Swartz Creek
St. Clair Shores
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 St. Clair Shores.
Housing costs are a major driver: Swartz Creek's average rent is
14% lower than St. Clair Shores's.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | St. Clair Shores | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $1,450 | -14% |
| Groceries | $380 | $420 | -10% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $130 | -15% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,145 | $2,405 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
St. Clair Shores offers 9% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, St. Clair Shores 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 St. Clair Shores.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $68,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 69,388 idx |
| Household Income | $64,500 | $78,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.4°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.70°F | 50.10°F |
| Summer High | 80.20°F | 79.20°F |
| Winter Low | 16.50°F | 19.60°F |
| Rainfall | 30.20 in | 32.60 in |
| Snowfall | 33.60 in | 33.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | 244 |
| 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 St. Clair Shores.
St. Clair Shores scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, St. Clair Shores leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 44.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
St. Clair Shores 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, St. Clair Shores has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Swartz Creek | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,700 | 58,800 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | — |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 43.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 4.00% |
| 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.
St. Clair Shores
Advantages
Extensive waterfront access and boating culture along the famous Nautical Mile and Lake St. Clair
Crime rates consistently lower than both Michigan state averages and national benchmarks
More affordable housing options compared to western and northern Detroit metro suburbs
Proximity to major regional employment centers in Detroit, Warren, and Troy via I-94
Active municipal park system featuring popular community gathering spots like Blossom Heath Park
Drawbacks
High car-dependency with limited robust public mass transit options within city borders
Older housing stock often requires ongoing maintenance and updates for modern energy efficiency
Property tax rates in Macomb County can be relatively high compared to some outer-ring suburbs
Winters bring substantial snowfall (33.5 inches annually) requiring regular snow removal
Limited large corporate headquarters physically located inside city limits, necessitating commutes
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
St. Clair Shores
#139Michigan, USA
65.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
244/yr
Avg Temp
50.10°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
76
Business
68
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Swartz Creek and St. Clair Shores.
Open Cost Calculator