City Comparison
Red Beach 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
Red Beach
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Swartz Creek is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Red Beach.
Housing costs are a major driver: Red Beach's average rent is
48% higher than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Red Beach | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,850 | $1,250 | +48% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $110 | +18% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,815 | $2,145 | +31% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Red Beach offers 10% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Red Beach delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Red Beach is estimated at
$58,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Red Beach | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 69,388 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $64,000 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Red Beach runs warmer on average — a 12.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 49 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 33.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Red Beach | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 61.10°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 58.90°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 60.50°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 59.20 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 202 | 251 |
| Humidity | 72.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Swartz Creek has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Red Beach.
Red Beach scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Red Beach leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Red Beach | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Red Beach is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Red Beach 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 | Red Beach | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,820 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.80% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Red Beach
Advantages
Median home price and coastal property values are supported by strong long-term capital growth averaging over 5% per annum per Opes Partners data.
Exceptional access to natural beaches, coastal reserves, and outdoor recreation right at the doorstep.
High safety score and secure family-oriented community environment across local neighborhoods.
Proximity to the Hibiscus Coast busway station provides efficient commuter links into central Auckland.
Strong educational access with well-rated local schools serving families in the area.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living and housing expenses are elevated relative to the national New Zealand average.
High car dependency for cross-region travel despite local bus connections.
Rental vacancy rates are tight, driving up weekly rental competition for newcomers.
Traffic congestion along arterial routes during peak morning and evening commute hours.
Limited large-scale industrial or corporate employment directly within the suburb limits local career diversity.
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.
Red Beach
#44Auckland, New Zealand
60.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,850
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
202/yr
Avg Temp
61.10°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
79
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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