Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Dearborn
Michigan
13
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $24,612 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $496k less ($189,400 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $776/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,981)
53% less violent crime than Boston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $24,612/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$24,612
$89,212 vs $64,600/yr
Dearborn
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
53% lower
292.6 vs 627.9 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$496k less
$189,400 vs $684,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $64,600 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 30.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 108,414 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston 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 Boston to Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $189,400 median home), income ($89,212 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Dearborn, MI are about 622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.