Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Lansing
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
78% less violent crime than Lansing
Households earn $13,853 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.8%)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($112,200 vs $189,400)
Rent averages $251/mo less ($954 vs $1,205)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Dearborn by $13,853/yr
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$13,853
$64,600 vs $50,747/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
78% lower
292.6 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Dearborn
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.3% unemployment
Lansing
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$77k less
$112,200 vs $189,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ 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 | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 112,986 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 14 and Lansing 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $112,200 median home), income ($64,600 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Lansing, MI are about 74 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.