Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Midland
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($189,400 vs $280,700)
20% less violent crime than Midland
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $25,848/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,848 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Violent Crime
20% lower
292.6 vs 364.9 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$91k less
$189,400 vs $280,700
Midland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$25,848
$90,448 vs $64,600/yr
Midland
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 28.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and Midland wins 10. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $280,700 median home), income ($64,600 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Midland, TX are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.