Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Dearborn leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Fairfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($189,400 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $842/mo less ($1,205 vs $2,047)
41% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $34,257/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,257 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
41% lower
292.6 vs 498.0 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$357k less
$189,400 vs $546,200
Fairfield
Median Income
$34,257
$98,857 vs $64,600/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.8% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 24.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 12 and Fairfield 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 Dearborn to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $546,200 median home), income ($64,600 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Fairfield, CA are about 2,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.