Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Dearborn leads 18 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Fresno
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($189,400 vs $321,800)
60% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.8%)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Income
$1,599
$64,600 vs $63,001/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
60% lower
292.6 vs 735.5 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$132k less
$189,400 vs $321,800
Dearborn
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 18 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 18 and Fresno wins 5. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $321,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Fresno, CA are about 1,970 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.