Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($189,400 vs $454,300)
46% less violent crime than Federal Way
Rent averages $455/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $15,760/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.5%)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $15,760 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
46% lower
292.6 vs 545.4 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$265k less
$189,400 vs $454,300
Dearborn
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Income
$15,760
$80,360 vs $64,600/yr
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 15 and Federal Way 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 Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $454,300 median home), income ($64,600 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Federal Way, WA are about 1,928 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.