Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Grand Rapids
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
68% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,966 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Median income trails Dearborn by $2,966/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$2,966
$64,600 vs $61,634/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
68% lower
292.6 vs 910.1 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$15k less
$189,400 vs $203,900
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $203,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,138 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $61,634 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 39.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 15 and Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $203,900 median home), income ($64,600 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Grand Rapids, MI are about 132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.