City Comparison
Estevan vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Estevan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Estevan
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Estevan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
16% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Estevan's average rent is
28% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Estevan | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $900 | $1,250 | -28% |
| Groceries | $400 | $380 | +5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $175 | +3% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $230 | -13% |
| Monthly Total | $1,800 | $2,145 | -16% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Estevan offers similar average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Estevan is estimated at
$48,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Estevan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $94,000 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 8.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Estevan comes out ahead with 36 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Estevan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 39.90°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 74.30°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | -2.90°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 20.60 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 24.60 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 287 | 251 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Estevan has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 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, Estevan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Estevan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 14 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 32.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Estevan is the larger city
— approximately 1.9x 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 | Estevan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,851 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Estevan
Advantages
Median home purchase prices in Estevan are roughly 18% lower than the national average per regional housing data.
The city records some of the highest annual hours of sunshine in Canada, offering an exceptionally bright climate.
Average monthly rental costs are substantially below national and provincial urban equivalents.
Strong local focus on discretionary income ranks the community favorably for household liquid assets within Saskatchewan.
Short local commute times and minimal traffic congestion provide a stress-free daily driving environment.
Drawbacks
Local employment and municipal economic cycles remain closely tied to volatility in global oil, gas, and coal markets.
Winters are long, harsh, and subject to deep sub-zero temperatures typical of the Canadian prairies.
Public mass transit options are extremely limited, resulting in high car dependency for daily errands.
Access to specialized medical care requires traveling over 100 miles to larger urban hospitals in Regina.
Transition policies surrounding traditional coal power generation introduce long-term labor market uncertainties.
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.
Estevan
#25Saskatchewan, Canada
67.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$900
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
287/yr
Avg Temp
39.90°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
75
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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