Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton leads 14 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
Denton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($189,400 vs $296,100)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $7,321/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.8%)
Denton, TX
Pros
30% less violent crime than Dearborn
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Households earn $7,321 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$107k less
$189,400 vs $296,100
Denton
Median Income
$7,321
$71,921 vs $64,600/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
30% lower
204.2 vs 292.6 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,264 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $71,921 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 38.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 142,262 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 14 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 9 and Denton wins 14. 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 Dearborn to Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $296,100 median home), income ($64,600 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Denton, TX are about 985 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.