City Comparison
Chartres vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Swartz Creek scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Chartres
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Chartres is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
27% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Chartres's average rent is
36% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Chartres | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $795 | $1,250 | -36% |
| Groceries | $400 | $380 | +5% |
| Utilities | $165 | $175 | -6% |
| Transport | $49 | $110 | -55% |
| Healthcare | $150 | $230 | -35% |
| Monthly Total | $1,559 | $2,145 | -27% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 21% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Swartz Creek delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Chartres is estimated at
$3,054 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Chartres | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,986 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $3,054 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 51,564 idx | 67,391 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Chartres runs warmer on average — a 5°F difference year-round.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 31.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Chartres | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.70°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 77.30°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 35.30°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 26.50 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 2.50 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 249 | 251 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Chartres 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 | Chartres | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 4.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 8.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Chartres is the larger city
— approximately 6.7x 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, Swartz Creek has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Chartres | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,141 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | |
| Unemployment | 7.30% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Chartres
Advantages
Chartres's housing market has seen an increase in house prices in 2024, indicating a stable or growing property value.
The city offers excellent walkability, with a score of 8/10, making it easy to explore the historic center and key landmarks on foot.
Chartres is well-connected to Paris by train, with a journey time of approximately one hour, offering convenient access to the capital.
The cost of living in Chartres is moderate, with housing and daily expenses generally being more affordable than in major French cities like Paris.
The city boasts a well-preserved historical center and is famous for its Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting significant tourism and cultural interest.
Drawbacks
Public transit within Chartres has a low score of 4/10, suggesting limited options for public transportation within the city.
While property prices have increased, the cost of housing in Chartres can still be considered 'not the most interesting' compared to some other areas, though bargains can be found.
Crime perception in Chartres, while moderate, includes concerns about property crimes and violent crimes, with scores around 45.83 and 33.33 respectively.
The remote work scene in Chartres is not explicitly detailed, and a general trend towards return-to-office mandates in some industries might impact remote work opportunities.
Chartres experienced a slight population decrease of -0.16% in the past year, indicating a minor negative population growth trend.
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.
Chartres
#31Centre-Val de Loire, France
53.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$795
Avg Salary
$48,986
Cost Index
95
Commute
min
Transit Score
4.0/100
Walkability
8.0/100
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
53.70°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
7.30%
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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