Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Dearborn leads 12 of 22 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
16% less violent crime than Joliet
Homes cost $44k less ($189,400 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $20,371/yr
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,371 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 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 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
16% lower
292.6 vs 350.0 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$44k less
$189,400 vs $233,800
Joliet
Median Income
$20,371
$84,971 vs $64,600/yr
Joliet
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 12 of 22 categories. Dearborn wins 12 and Joliet 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 Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $233,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Joliet, IL are about 260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.