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Tours vs Swartz Creek

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

Centre-Val de Loire, France
View Tours profile
#32 in France
53
Overall Score
VS
Michigan, USA
View Swartz Creek profile
#146 in USA
65
Overall Score
Swartz Creek scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Tours
Swartz Creek
Livability
78
78
Affordability
70
80
Business
60
68
Growth
60
69

Cost of Living

Tours is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 29% lower than in Swartz Creek. Housing costs are a major driver: Tours's average rent is 46% lower than Swartz Creek's.
MetricToursSwartz CreekDiff
Average Rent
$672$1,250-46%
Groceries
$526$380+38%
Utilities
$173$175-1%
Transport
$68$110-38%
Healthcare
$90$230-61%
Monthly Total
$1,529$2,145-29%
Cost Index
7092out of 100

Salary & Income

Swartz Creek offers 55% 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 Tours is estimated at $24,840 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
MetricToursSwartz Creek
Average Salary
$28,122$62,000
Salary Needed
$24,840$48,000
Purchasing Power
40,174 idx67,391 idx

Climate Comparison

Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 48.7°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 251 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.
MetricToursSwartz Creek
Avg Temp
°F48.70°F
Summer High
°F80.20°F
Winter Low
°F16.50°F
Rainfall
in30.20 in
Snowfall
in33.60 in
Sunny Days
251
Humidity
80.00%68.00%

Commute & Transport

Tours has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek. 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.
MetricToursSwartz Creek
Commute Time
20 min24 min
Transit Score
65.0/10035.0/100
Walkability
75.0/10048.0/100
Traffic Index
20.0038.00
Car Dependency
LowHigh

Economy & Demographics

Tours is the larger city — approximately 24.7x 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.
MetricToursSwartz Creek
Population
140,8735,700
Pop. Growth
0.38%0.50%
Median Age
42.541.2
Unemployment
8.30%4.30%
GDP
——

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.
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.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Tours
#32
Centre-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
View Full Profile
Swartz Creek
#146
Michigan, 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
View Full Profile

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