Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($189,400 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $535/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $48,686/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,686 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Dearborn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 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 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$211k less
$189,400 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$48,686
$113,286 vs $64,600/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
60% lower
117.3 vs 292.6 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 64.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 8 and McKinney wins 15. 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $400,400 median home), income ($64,600 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and McKinney, TX are about 966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.