Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 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
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($189,400 vs $362,800)
45% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,466)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $8,408/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $8,408 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
45% lower
292.6 vs 532.5 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$173k less
$189,400 vs $362,800
Lowell
Median Income
$8,408
$73,008 vs $64,600/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 15 and Lowell 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $362,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Lowell, MA are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.