City Comparison
Roubaix 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
Roubaix
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Roubaix is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
48% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Roubaix's average rent is
59% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Roubaix | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $508 | $1,250 | -59% |
| Groceries | $400 | $380 | +5% |
| Utilities | $170 | $175 | -3% |
| Transport | $27 | $110 | -75% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $230 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $1,105 | $2,145 | -48% |
| Cost Index | 106 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 22% 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 Roubaix is estimated at
$45,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Roubaix | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,335 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 45,599 idx | 67,391 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 4.8°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 25.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Roubaix | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.50°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 75.40°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 35.70°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 24.50 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 8.50 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 259 | 251 |
| Humidity | 72.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Roubaix has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 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, Swartz Creek leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Roubaix | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Roubaix is the larger city
— approximately 17.2x 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 | Roubaix | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 98,300 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | |
| Unemployment | 7.54% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Roubaix
Advantages
More affordable cost of living compared to Lille and other major French cities.
Rich industrial heritage and cultural attractions, including the La Piscine museum and its connection to the Paris-Roubaix race.
Good public transport connectivity within the Lille metropolitan area, with metro, tram, and bus services.
Reinventing itself as a culinary destination with a growing food scene.
Housing market offers relatively lower prices per square meter compared to neighboring cities.
Drawbacks
Significant safety concerns and a high crime perception, with a safety index of 40.51.
Limited recent and specific data available for key metrics like median household income, unemployment rate, and precise rental costs.
High humidity and frequent cloudiness are characteristic of the local climate.
Limited international flight connectivity, with closest major airports being Brussels or Lille.
Public transportation services do not operate late into the night.
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.
Roubaix
#61Hauts-de-France, France
43.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$508
Avg Salary
$48,335
Cost Index
106
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
259/yr
Avg Temp
53.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
7.54%
Livability
72
Business
65
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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