City Comparison
Cold Lake vs Schenectady
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cold Lake scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cold Lake
Schenectady
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cold Lake is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
22% lower compared to Schenectady.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cold Lake's average rent is
15% lower than Schenectady's.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Schenectady | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,210 | $1,425 | -15% |
| Groceries | $321 | $442 | -27% |
| Utilities | $176 | $323 | -46% |
| Transport | $487 | $899 | -46% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,394 | $3,089 | -22% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 99 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Schenectady offers 16% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Schenectady delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cold Lake is estimated at
$40,000 vs $70,000 in Schenectady.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $46,347 | $55,374 |
| Salary Needed | $40,000 | $70,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 54,526 idx | 55,933 idx |
| Household Income | $85,007 | $58,399 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Schenectady scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Schenectady leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/10 | 50.0/10 |
| Walkability | 28.0/10 | 60.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Schenectady is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Cold Lake.
From a growth perspective, Cold Lake 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 | Cold Lake | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,186 | 68,847 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.18% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 7.90% | 5.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $11.3B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cold Lake
Advantages
Average salary in Cold Lake is 19.6% higher than the Canadian national average as of July 2026.
The city benefits from significant defence investment, including a $525M investment at CFB Cold Lake for a Military Fighter Squadron Facility.
Cold Lake Transit offers a free public bus service, enhancing local mobility for residents.
Recent reports from May 2026 indicate a significant downward trend in crime rates, with crimes against persons down 51% and property crimes down 53% year-over-year.
The city is actively pursuing commercial and residential growth, with ongoing planning for future development.
Drawbacks
Cold Lake's overall crime rates are 214% higher than the national average, and violent crimes are 145% higher, based on estimated data.
The regional unemployment rate for Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake was 7.9% in June 2026, which is higher than the national average.
The Cold Lake Healthcare Centre is experiencing chronic understaffing in its emergency room, leading to increased wait times and concerns about patient care as of August 2026.
The city has a low walk score of 28 out of 100, indicating it is a car-dependent neighborhood where most errands require a vehicle.
Limited bike infrastructure, with a bike score of 45, makes cycling challenging for daily errands.
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.
Cold Lake
#29Alberta, Canada
57.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,210
Avg Salary
$46,347
Cost Index
85
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
35.0/10
Walkability
28.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.18%
Unemployment
7.90%
Livability
72
Business
65
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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