City Comparison
Te Awamutu vs Bay City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Te Awamutu scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Te Awamutu
Bay City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Bay City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
3% lower than in Te Awamutu.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Bay City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,000 | $950 | +5% |
| Groceries | $450 | $380 | +18% |
| Utilities | $238 | $175 | +36% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $100 | $230 | -57% |
| Monthly Total | $1,908 | $1,845 | +3% |
| Cost Index | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Bay City offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $52,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $42,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Te Awamutu runs warmer on average — a 9.1°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Bay City comes out ahead with 29 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Bay City sees 34.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 57.90°F | 48.80°F |
| Summer High | 57.30°F | 79.90°F |
| Winter Low | 56.20°F | 16.80°F |
| Rainfall | 59.70 in | 29.50 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 34.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 229 | 258 |
| Humidity | % | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Te Awamutu has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
10,500 minutes (175 hours) per year compared to Bay City.
Te Awamutu scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Te Awamutu leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 70.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Bay City is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Te Awamutu.
From a growth perspective, Te Awamutu is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Te Awamutu has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,253 | 32,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | — |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Unemployment | 5.08% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Te Awamutu
Advantages
Te Awamutu is known as the "Rose Town of New Zealand" and features elaborate rose gardens, a key point of local pride.
The town offers a balance of small-town warmth, scenic beauty, and modern conveniences.
Te Awamutu's town center is compact and highly walkable, with many key places accessible on foot.
The housing market shows long-term stability with a mix of owner-occupiers and a growing rental market.
The town provides access to a range of local healthcare services, including urgent care and various specialists.
Drawbacks
Public transportation in Te Awamutu is somewhat limited, primarily connecting to Hamilton rather than offering extensive local transit.
Te Awamutu does not have a hospital providing a full range of specialist services, requiring residents to travel to Hamilton for more advanced medical needs.
A 2026 report highlighted barriers for residents in accessing specialist care and a need for stronger connections between local health services.
The cost of eating out in Te Awamutu can be similar to or slightly higher than in the USA, Australia, and the UK.
While the town is walkable, getting around surrounding areas is easiest by private car, indicating a degree of car dependency.
Bay City
Advantages
Median home prices in Bay City are significantly lower than the national average per recent housing market data.
Abundant waterfront access along the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay supports a strong boating and outdoor recreation culture.
Rich architectural heritage featuring expansive historic districts with preserved 19th-century Victorian homes.
Low overall cost of living indices allow residents to enjoy greater financial affordability on everyday goods and utilities.
Active downtown district featuring local dining, craft beverage makers, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cold, snowy winters require residents to adapt to significant seasonal snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transit infrastructure creates a high reliance on personal automobiles for daily transportation.
Job growth in certain traditional sectors has lagged behind larger metropolitan areas in Michigan.
Higher poverty rates in specific city neighborhoods compared to the broader suburban county areas.
Cooler spring and autumn shoulder seasons shorten the peak window for outdoor activities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Te Awamutu
#11Waikato, New Zealand
67.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,000
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
70.0/100
Sunny Days
229/yr
Avg Temp
57.90°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
5.08%
Livability
74
Business
68
Bay City
#401Michigan, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
72
Business
65
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