City Comparison
Essen vs Binghamton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Essen scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Essen
Binghamton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Essen is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
29% lower than in Binghamton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Essen's average rent is
17% lower than Binghamton's.
| Metric | Essen | Binghamton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,138 | -17% |
| Groceries | $380 | $404 | -6% |
| Utilities | $240 | $194 | +24% |
| Transport | $55 | $312 | -82% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $226 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $1,625 | $2,274 | -29% |
| Cost Index | 78 | 110 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Binghamton offers 13% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Essen delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Essen is estimated at
$42,000 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
| Metric | Essen | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,000 | $55,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,538 idx | 50,000 idx |
| Household Income | $45,000 | $45,578 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Essen runs warmer on average — a 53.1°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Essen comes out ahead with 239 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Essen sees 10.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Essen | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.10°F | °F |
| Summer High | 75.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 35.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 31.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 10.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 239 | |
| Humidity | 74.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Binghamton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
7,500 minutes (125 hours) per year compared to Essen.
Essen scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Essen leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Essen | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 76.0/100 | 33.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Essen is the larger city
— approximately 12.5x the population of Binghamton.
From a growth perspective, Binghamton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Binghamton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Essen | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 586,608 | 46,773 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.20% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 8.90% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | $13.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Essen
Advantages
Median housing and rental prices remain significantly more affordable than in neighboring Düsseldorf, Cologne, or Frankfurt.
Extensive green spaces, including Lake Baldeney and Gruga Park, offer exceptional outdoor recreation within an urban setting.
World-class cultural and historic assets, such as the UNESCO Zollverein World Heritage Site and Museum Folkwang.
Excellent public transit connectivity and central positioning within the dense Ruhr metropolitan transport network.
Strong economic foundation anchored by major corporate headquarters in the energy and service sectors.
Drawbacks
Local unemployment rates remain slightly above the national average for Germany due to historical structural shifts.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along major thoroughfares like the A40 autobahn.
Certain inner-city neighborhoods face socioeconomic challenges and localized pockets of urban deprivation.
Industrial heritage legacy requires ongoing urban regeneration and environmental remediation efforts.
Higher local municipal taxes (Gewerbesteuer and Grundsteuer) compared to some surrounding suburban municipalities.
Binghamton
Advantages
The average commute time in Binghamton is relatively short at 16 minutes, offering more personal time.
Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, with a median home price of $194,000 as of December 2025.
The presence of Binghamton University provides a vibrant cultural scene and educational opportunities.
The city's economy is diversifying with growth in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Binghamton offers access to natural landscapes and outdoor recreational activities due to its river confluence and surrounding hills.
Drawbacks
Binghamton has a high crime rate, with total crime being 86% higher than the national average based on 2024 FBI data.
The unemployment rate in Binghamton was 4.3% in 2026, slightly higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, as indicated by a Transit Score of 33 for Downtown Binghamton.
Despite some positive economic indicators, the Binghamton metro area experienced a 2.8% population decrease over a 10-year period leading up to 2024.
Drug-related crime remains a significant concern in the Binghamton area, despite a decrease in overdose rates.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Essen
#86North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
55.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
78
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
76.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
239/yr
Avg Temp
53.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.20%
Unemployment
8.90%
Livability
75
Business
70
Binghamton
#603New York, USA
38.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,138
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
110
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
33.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
68
Business
60
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