City Comparison
Bera vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Bera scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Bera
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Bera | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,250 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $380 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $175 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $110 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $230 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,145 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Bera | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $48,000 |
| Household Income | $4,269 | $64,500 |
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 | Bera | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | °F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | |
| Humidity | 75.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bera has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek.
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 | Bera | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Bera is the larger city
— approximately 17.8x 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, Bera has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Bera | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 101,300 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.30% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 30.3 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Bera
Advantages
Bera boasts a relatively low crime rate of 1.18 per 1,000 residents in 2023, placing it in the top 47% for safety among Malaysian districts.
The district is home to Tasik Bera, Malaysia's largest freshwater lake and a Ramsar site, offering significant natural beauty and eco-tourism potential.
Bera is part of Pahang Barat Plus, an area targeted for economic growth through large-scale agriculture and enhanced domestic tourism, promising future development and opportunities.
The cost of living in Bera is generally affordable, with a median household income of RM 4,269 per month and a mean monthly expenditure of RM 3,548 in 2024.
Pahang, the state Bera is in, recorded a low unemployment rate of 1.9% in Q1 2026, indicating a stable labor market.
Drawbacks
A significant portion of the Tasik Bera Permanent Forest Reserve, over 7,000 hectares, is suspected to have been illegally cleared for commercial crops, posing an environmental threat.
Rural communities in Bera District face challenges such as low education standards and a lack of employment opportunities, contributing to poverty.
The district's economy is heavily reliant on the agriculture sector, particularly palm oil and rubber, which can lead to a less diversified job market.
Specific data on housing costs, such as average rent and home purchase prices, are not readily available for Bera, making it difficult to assess detailed housing affordability.
While road connectivity is improving, public transportation options within Bera are likely limited, leading to a higher car dependency for residents.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Bera
#63Pahang, Malaysia
70.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.30%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
74
Business
68
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
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