Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Dearborn by $6,251/yr
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Dearborn, MI
Pros
82% less violent crime than Baltimore
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,251 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 83.6°F
Dearborn
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Income
$6,251
$64,600 vs $58,349/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
82% lower
292.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$14k less
$189,400 vs $202,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $64,600 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 108,414 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Dearborn wins 13. 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 Baltimore to Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $189,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Dearborn, MI are about 403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.