Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Jacksonville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
53% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Homes cost $54k less ($189,400 vs $243,000)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,281)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.8%)
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
53% lower
292.6 vs 623.8 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$54k less
$189,400 vs $243,000
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $243,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 14 and Jacksonville wins 9. 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $243,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Jacksonville, FL are about 832 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.