City Comparison
Tours vs Schenectady
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Tours scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Tours
Schenectady
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Tours is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
51% lower than in Schenectady.
Housing costs are a major driver: Tours's average rent is
53% lower than Schenectady's.
| Metric | Tours | Schenectady | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $672 | $1,425 | -53% |
| Groceries | $526 | $442 | +19% |
| Utilities | $173 | $323 | -46% |
| Transport | $68 | $899 | -92% |
| Healthcare | $90 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,529 | $3,089 | -51% |
| Cost Index | 70 | 99 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Schenectady offers 49% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Schenectady delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Tours is estimated at
$24,840 vs $70,000 in Schenectady.
| Metric | Tours | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $28,122 | $55,374 |
| Salary Needed | $24,840 | $70,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 40,174 idx | 55,933 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Tours | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 80.00% | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Tours scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tours leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Tours | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 65.0/100 | 50.0/100 |
| Walkability | 75.0/100 | 60.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 20.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tours is the larger city
— approximately 2x the population of Schenectady.
From a growth perspective, Schenectady is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Schenectady has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Tours | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 140,873 | 68,847 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.38% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 8.30% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | $11.3B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Tours
Advantages
Tours boasts a 'Very High' Health Care Index of 86.11, indicating excellent healthcare quality.
The city has a 'Very Low' Traffic Commute Time Index of 8.00, suggesting minimal traffic congestion and short commute times.
The cost of living in Tours is generally more affordable than in major French cities and significantly less than large US urban centers.
Tours enjoys a 'Very High' Climate Index of 90.35, offering a pleasant temperate climate.
The city has a well-developed public transportation system, including trams and buses, reducing car dependency.
Drawbacks
France's national unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in Q2 2026, which may impact the local job market.
The national business climate in France was described as 'gloomy' in June 2026, potentially affecting economic opportunities.
Specific recent data for some city-level economic metrics, such as median household income and job growth rate, are not readily available.
The average monthly net salary in Tours is around $2,343.50, which is lower than the national average for France.
While generally safe, the Safety Index of 58.76 indicates a moderate level of crime, suggesting some concerns.
Schenectady
Advantages
Exceptional Livability Score of 78/100 [22].
Cost of living is 18% lower than the New York State average [22].
Median sale price of homes increased by 6.2% year-over-year as of June 2026 [25].
Revitalized downtown area with growing tech firms and cultural attractions [41].
Schenectady County experienced a 5% GDP growth in 2023 [8].
Drawbacks
High crime rates, with a safety grade of 'F' and violent crime rates significantly above national averages [8, 22].
Homeownership rate (45.6%) is lower than the national average (65.2%) [3].
Median household income ($58,399) is lower than the national average.
Moderate public transit score of 50/100 [27].
Higher than average transportation costs (5% higher than national average) [21].
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Tours
#32Centre-Val de Loire, France
53.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$672
Avg Salary
$28,122
Cost Index
70
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
65.0/100
Walkability
75.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.38%
Unemployment
8.30%
Livability
78
Business
60
Schenectady
#606New York, USA
33.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,425
Avg Salary
$55,374
Cost Index
99
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
50.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
78
Business
65
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