Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Detroit, MI
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 21 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Detroit
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.9 pts lower (6.8%)
Households earn $26,839 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Detroit
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($66,700 vs $189,400)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($989 vs $1,205)
Cons
Median income trails Dearborn by $26,839/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$26,839
$64,600 vs $37,761/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
84% lower
292.6 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Dearborn
Unemployment
7.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 14.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Detroit
Median Home Value
$123k less
$66,700 vs $189,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Detroit, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 | $66,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $989 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $37,761 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 14.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 469⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Detroit Public Schools Community District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 33.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 34.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 636,787 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Detroit's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 21 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and Detroit wins 8. 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 Detroit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $66,700 median home), income ($64,600 vs $37,761), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Detroit, MI are about 7 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.