Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $13,055 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($189,400 vs $395,600)
65% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $13,055/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$13,055
$77,655 vs $64,600/yr
Atlanta
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.6°F
Dearborn
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
65% lower
292.6 vs 840.6 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$206k less
$189,400 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $64,600 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 108,414 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $189,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Dearborn, MI are about 594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.