Performance
Score Breakdown
Surrey
Hazleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Surrey is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
24% lower compared to Hazleton.
| Metric | Surrey | Hazleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,462 | $1,350 | +8% |
| Groceries | $287 | $400 | -28% |
| Utilities | $122 | $349 | -65% |
| Transport | $80 | $360 | -78% |
| Healthcare | $150 | $293 | -49% |
| Monthly Total | $2,101 | $2,752 | -24% |
| Cost Index | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Hazleton offers 31% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Surrey is estimated at
$45,000 vs $45,000 in Hazleton.
| Metric | Surrey | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $34,490 | $49,688 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Household Income | $62,353 | $46,177 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Surrey | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Hazleton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,000 minutes (133 hours) per year compared to Surrey.
Surrey scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Surrey leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Surrey | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 37 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 47.0/10 | 25.0/10 |
| Walkability | 46.0/10 | 30.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 163.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Surrey is the larger city
— approximately 22.1x the population of Hazleton.
From a growth perspective, Surrey is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Surrey has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Surrey | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 721,000 | 32,657 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.50% | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 37.5 |
| Unemployment | 5.10% | 7.40% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Surrey
Advantages
Surrey is one of Canada's fastest-growing cities, with a rapidly increasing population and strong economic indicators. [cite: 15, 43, previous search]
The city boasts a robust and diverse economy, with a company growth rate of 2.2% as of October 2025. [cite: 2, previous search]
Surrey's unemployment rate is low at 5.1% (October 2025), indicating a healthy job market. [cite: 2, previous search]
Crime rates in Surrey are 12% lower than the British Columbia average, contributing to a sense of safety. [cite: 31, previous search]
The city offers a more affordable cost of living compared to Vancouver, particularly in housing. [cite: 24, 29, previous search]
Drawbacks
Despite being more affordable than Vancouver, housing costs in Surrey remain a significant expense, with a median home price of $845,000 CAD in April 2026.
The average commute time is approximately 37 minutes, and traffic congestion can be high.
Surrey is considered a car-dependent city, with a Walk Score of 46 and a Transit Score of 47. [cite: 6, 14, previous search]
While public transit is available, the options are somewhat limited compared to more densely populated urban centers. [cite: 14, previous search]
Home care costs can be substantial, averaging around $3,440 USD per month for moderate care.
Hazleton
Advantages
Median home sale price increased by 13.3% year-over-year as of June 2026, indicating a growing housing market.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, making it more affordable to live.
Violent crime rates are below the U.S. average, contributing to a safer community environment.
The city has a positive job growth rate of 2.56% from June 2025 to June 2026.
Pennsylvania ranks among the top states for new business survival, suggesting a supportive entrepreneurial climate.
Drawbacks
Unemployment rate in Hazleton was 7.40% in June 2026, higher than the national average.
Utility prices are estimated to be 15% higher than the national average.
Transportation expenses are 13% higher than the national average, and car dependency is high.
A significant portion of Hazleton families (25.0%) live in poverty.
Conflicting data on cost of living index makes overall affordability assessment challenging.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Surrey
#13British Columbia, Canada
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,462
Avg Salary
$34,490
Cost Index
Commute
37 min
Transit Score
47.0/10
Walkability
46.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.50%
Unemployment
5.10%
Livability
74
Business
75
Hazleton
#62Pennsylvania, USA
69.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$49,688
Cost Index
101
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
25.0/10
Walkability
30.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
7.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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