Performance
Score Breakdown
Decatur
Burnaby
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Decatur is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
100% lower compared to Burnaby.
Housing costs are a major driver: Decatur's average rent is
100% lower than Burnaby's.
| Metric | Decatur | Burnaby | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $2,300 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,300 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 69 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Decatur offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Decatur | Burnaby |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,363 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $77,712 |
| Household Income | $68,116 | $83,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Decatur | Burnaby |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 75.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Burnaby has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Decatur.
| Metric | Decatur | Burnaby |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 23.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Burnaby is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Decatur.
From a growth perspective, Burnaby is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Decatur has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Decatur | Burnaby |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,361 | 249,125 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.30% | 7.00% |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.00% | 6.91% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Decatur
Advantages
The cost of living in Decatur is notably lower than the national average, including housing, utilities, and transportation.
Decatur boasts a higher homeownership rate (74.6% in 2024) compared to the national average.
The median property value in Decatur increased by 9.46% between 2023 and 2024.
The average commute time of 26 minutes is shorter than the national average.
Decatur's job market is predicted to have a positive future growth of 30.5% over the next ten years.
Drawbacks
The overall crime rate in Decatur is slightly higher than the average U.S. city, with a C- grade for safety.
Amenities in Decatur received a concerning score of 'F' in a livability assessment.
The city exhibits a medium to high car dependency due to limited public transit options and walkability.
The average salary in Decatur ($56,363 in June 2026) is lower than the national average.
Humidity levels can be uncomfortably high during the summer months from June to August.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Decatur
#21Alabama, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$56,363
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.30%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
73
Business
0
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
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