City Comparison
Dundee 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
Dundee
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Dundee is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Dundee's average rent is
24% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Dundee | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,250 | -24% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $190 | $175 | +9% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $230 | -13% |
| Monthly Total | $1,830 | $2,145 | -15% |
| Cost Index | 82 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 32% 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 Dundee is estimated at
$35,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Dundee | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $42,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $35,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 51,220 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $38,500 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.099999999999994°F of each other.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 21 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 28.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Dundee | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.80°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 65.80°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 35.30°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 33.40 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 4.80 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 230 | 251 |
| Humidity | 78.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Dundee scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Dundee leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Dundee | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 75.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Dundee is the larger city
— approximately 26.1x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Dundee 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 | Dundee | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 148,700 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.60% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Dundee
Advantages
Significantly lower average home purchase and rental costs compared to Edinburgh and Glasgow per Zoopla 2025 data
World-class cultural anchor with the V&A Dundee and a globally recognized digital games development hub
Home to Ninewells Hospital and two major universities driving strong public sector and research employment
High walkability and compact city layout reducing daily commuting times and transport expenses
Scenic coastal location on the Firth of Tay with easy access to rural Angus and the Scottish Highlands
Drawbacks
Average local salaries lag behind major UK metropolitan hubs like London and Edinburgh per ONS data
Higher than average rainfall and cooler winter temperatures characteristic of eastern Scotland
Certain inner-city pockets experience localized deprivation and economic challenges
Limited direct international flight connections from Dundee Airport require travel to Edinburgh
Public transport reliance can present challenges for late-night travel outside core routes
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.
Dundee
#11Scotland, UK
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$42,000
Cost Index
82
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
75.0/100
Sunny Days
230/yr
Avg Temp
48.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.60%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
76
Business
70
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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