Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $48,579 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Dearborn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $466k less ($189,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $778/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $48,579/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$48,579
$113,179 vs $64,600/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
25% lower
219.1 vs 292.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.6°F
Dearborn
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$466k less
$189,400 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $64,600 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 108,414 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and Dearborn wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $189,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Dearborn, MI are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.