Performance
Score Breakdown
Burnaby
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Burnaby is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
11% lower compared to Grants Pass.
Housing costs are a major driver: Burnaby's average rent is
59% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Burnaby | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,300 | $1,450 | +59% |
| Groceries | $0 | $450 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $400 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $150 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,300 | $2,570 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 69 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Grants Pass offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Burnaby is estimated at
$77,712 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Burnaby | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $77,712 | $58,000 |
| Household Income | $83,000 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Burnaby | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 75.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Burnaby.
Grants Pass scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Grants Pass leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Burnaby | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 27.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 40.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 23.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Burnaby is the larger city
— approximately 6.2x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Burnaby is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Grants Pass has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Burnaby | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 249,125 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 7.00% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 6.91% | 5.60% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Burnaby
Advantages
Burnaby's crime rates are 28% lower than the British Columbia average.
The city has an exceptional Livability Score of 84/100.
Burnaby has one of the highest ratios of park land to residents in North America, with 25% of its land designated as parks and open spaces.
The city is a major employment center within the Lower Mainland, with significant job growth in professional, scientific, and technical services.
Burnaby offers convenient public transit with 11 SkyTrain stations and an extensive bus system.
Drawbacks
Burnaby has some of the highest rents in Canada, second only to Vancouver.
Despite a decline in 2024, rents are still 16.8% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The competitive housing market and high cost of living can be challenging for residents.
The average days on market for detached homes in Burnaby jumped to 51 days in December 2024, up from 19 in November.
While the infrastructure is dependable, the pace of life is more functional than cosmopolitan.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Burnaby
#1British Columbia, Canada
84.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,300
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
69
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
7.00%
Unemployment
6.91%
Livability
84
Business
0
Grants Pass
#64Oregon, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/10
Walkability
40.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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