Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $9,470 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($189,400 vs $312,800)
60% less violent crime than Charlotte
Rent averages $194/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $9,470/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$9,470
$74,070 vs $64,600/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Charlotte
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.6°F
Dearborn
Violent Crime
60% lower
292.6 vs 733.2 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$123k less
$189,400 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $64,600 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 108,414 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $189,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Dearborn, MI are about 507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.