Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 12 of 22 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Median income trails Livonia by $13,912/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($249,000 vs $416,500)
25% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,472)
Households earn $13,912 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Livonia
Median Income
$13,912
$92,458 vs $78,546/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
25% lower
228.1 vs 302.5 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$168k less
$249,000 vs $416,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $249,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 13.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 33.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 36.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Livonia leads 12 of 22 categories. Ann Arbor wins 10 and Livonia wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $249,000 median home), income ($78,546 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Livonia, MI are about 20 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.