City Comparison
Te Awamutu vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Te Awamutu scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Te Awamutu
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Te Awamutu is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Te Awamutu's average rent is
20% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,000 | $1,250 | -20% |
| Groceries | $450 | $380 | +18% |
| Utilities | $238 | $175 | +36% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $100 | $230 | -57% |
| Monthly Total | $1,908 | $2,145 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Te Awamutu | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $48,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Te Awamutu runs warmer on average — a 9.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 22 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 | Te Awamutu | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 57.90°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 57.30°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 56.20°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 59.70 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 229 | 251 |
| Humidity | % | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Te Awamutu has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek.
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 | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 70.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Te Awamutu is the larger city
— approximately 2.5x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Te Awamutu 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 | Te Awamutu | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,253 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.08% | 4.30% |
| 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.
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.
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
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Te Awamutu and Swartz Creek.
Open Cost Calculator