Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
Elgin
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($189,400 vs $242,500)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $21,398/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 6.0%)
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $21,398 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Dearborn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.0%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$53k less
$189,400 vs $242,500
Elgin
Median Income
$21,398
$85,998 vs $64,600/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
9% lower
266.7 vs 292.6 per 100k
Elgin
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $242,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 26.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 11 and Elgin wins 12. 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 Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $242,500 median home), income ($64,600 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Elgin, IL are about 263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.