Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
Garland
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $40k less ($189,400 vs $229,000)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Garland by $6,444/yr
Garland, TX
Pros
20% less violent crime than Dearborn
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Households earn $6,444 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 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 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$40k less
$189,400 vs $229,000
Garland
Median Income
$6,444
$71,044 vs $64,600/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
20% lower
232.7 vs 292.6 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $229,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and Garland wins 10. 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 Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $229,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Garland, TX are about 978 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.