Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($189,400 vs $368,800)
65% less violent crime than Lancaster
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,576)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $6,767/yr
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Households earn $6,767 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
65% lower
292.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$179k less
$189,400 vs $368,800
Dearborn
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$6,767
$71,367 vs $64,600/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 15 and Lancaster 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $368,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Lancaster, CA are about 1,947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.