Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
83% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $5,903 more per year on average
Homes cost $16k less ($189,400 vs $205,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,205)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Dearborn by $5,903/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$5,903
$64,600 vs $58,697/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
83% lower
292.6 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$16k less
$189,400 vs $205,800
Little Rock
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 11 and Little Rock wins 12. 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $205,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Little Rock, AR are about 720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.