City Comparison
Burlington vs Schenectady
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Burlington scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Burlington
Schenectady
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Burlington is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
28% lower compared to Schenectady.
Housing costs are a major driver: Burlington's average rent is
15% higher than Schenectady's.
| Metric | Burlington | Schenectady | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,635 | $1,425 | +15% |
| Groceries | $330 | $442 | -25% |
| Utilities | $111 | $323 | -66% |
| Transport | $72 | $899 | -92% |
| Healthcare | $70 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,218 | $3,089 | -28% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 99 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Schenectady offers 10% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Burlington delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Burlington is estimated at
$58,490 vs $70,000 in Schenectady.
| Metric | Burlington | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,679 | $55,374 |
| Salary Needed | $58,490 | $70,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 58,446 idx | 55,933 idx |
| Household Income | $77,330 | $58,399 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Burlington | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Schenectady has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Burlington.
For walkability, Burlington leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Burlington | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 50.0/10 | 50.0/10 |
| Walkability | 65.0/10 | 60.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 55.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Burlington is the larger city
— approximately 2.9x the population of Schenectady.
From a growth perspective, Schenectady is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Schenectady has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Burlington | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 198,805 | 68,847 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.54% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 6.91% | 5.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $11.3B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Burlington
Advantages
Consistently ranked as a top livable city in Canada, with 95% of residents rating their quality of life as 'Good' or 'Excellent'.
Strong and diversified economy with key industries including Advanced Manufacturing, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and IT Communications.
Strategic location within the Golden Horseshoe, offering excellent transportation links to major cities like Toronto.
Abundant natural attractions, including Lake Ontario waterfront, the Niagara Escarpment, and numerous parks and trails.
Access to high-quality healthcare services through Joseph Brant Hospital, a comprehensive community teaching hospital.
Drawbacks
Cost of living is higher than the Canadian national average, particularly for housing.
Average rent for apartments is relatively high, with a 1-bedroom averaging $1,406 USD and a 2-bedroom averaging $1,684 USD.
While generally safe, some residents in 2024 expressed concerns about a perceived decline in safety.
Car dependency is medium, and specific public transit and walkability scores are not widely published, suggesting reliance on personal vehicles for many areas.
Limited number of general hospitals, with Joseph Brant Hospital being the primary facility for the city.
Schenectady
Advantages
Exceptional Livability Score of 78/100 [22].
Cost of living is 18% lower than the New York State average [22].
Median sale price of homes increased by 6.2% year-over-year as of June 2026 [25].
Revitalized downtown area with growing tech firms and cultural attractions [41].
Schenectady County experienced a 5% GDP growth in 2023 [8].
Drawbacks
High crime rates, with a safety grade of 'F' and violent crime rates significantly above national averages [8, 22].
Homeownership rate (45.6%) is lower than the national average (65.2%) [3].
Median household income ($58,399) is lower than the national average.
Moderate public transit score of 50/100 [27].
Higher than average transportation costs (5% higher than national average) [21].
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Burlington
#16Ontario, Canada
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,635
Avg Salary
$49,679
Cost Index
85
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
50.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.54%
Unemployment
6.91%
Livability
78
Business
70
Schenectady
#164New York, USA
38.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,425
Avg Salary
$55,374
Cost Index
99
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
50.0/10
Walkability
60.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
78
Business
65
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