Today's Globe spells out the differences...

[c9]

What's living in KW like? Well, check out what the Globe and Mail had to say...

Waterloo region

Unemployment rate: 5.3 per cent
Median home price: $244,825
Average temperature: 11.86 degrees
Average yearly snowfall: 158 cm
Golf courses: 16
Universities: University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph
Major events: Oktoberfest, Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, Waterloo County and Area Quilt Festival

Silicon Valley

Unemployment rate: 5.4 per cent
Median home price: $681,500 (U.S.)
Average temperature: 21.65 degrees
Average yearly snowfall: 0 cm
Golf courses: 25
Universities: Carnegie Mellon University, San Jose State University, Stanford University
Major events: San Jose International Auto Show, San Jose Arts Festival, Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival, Comcast Jazz Festival, Silicon Valley Marathon

Comments

[p00kster.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Newspapers always have such unreliable information. I decided to look it up myself according to statscan data (p.s. I linked to your journal via leapfish)

According to the 2001 Community Profile of Waterloo:

Avg. Value of Dwelling $193,829 vs. $199,884 (all of Ontario)

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/Details/details1.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&ID=6962&PSGC=35&SGC=3530016&DataType=1&LANG=E&Province=35&PlaceName=waterloo&CMA=&CSDNAME=Waterloo&A=&TypeNameE=City%20%2D%20Cit%E9&Prov=

According to the 2001 Kitchener (CMA) Profile:

Avg. Value of Dwelling $172,550 vs. $199,884 (all of Ontario)

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/Details/details1fam.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&PSGC=35&SGC=35541&A=&LANG=E&Province=35&PlaceName=waterloo&CSDNAME=Kitchener&CMA=&SEARCH=BEGINS&DataType=1&TypeNameE=Census%20Metropolitan%20Area&ID=6963

[c9.livejournal.com]

True, though of course median value and average value are not the same thing. But I'm too lazy to actually figure out how far off these things are, given known number of dwellings, etc. :)

[p00kster.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about this too... though I'd be shocked that the median would be that much higher in a representative sample.

[c9.livejournal.com]

One other point that would have an effect. KW has had a huge housing and employment boom in the years between 2001 (your sample) and today. The G&M didn't specify their source, but it might plausibly be considered more current. Dunno.

[miket61.livejournal.com]

Maple syrup AND quilts? If you had the median home price of Palo Alto, you'd be Woodstock, VT...