Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Dearborn leads 16 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
80% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $14,867 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Rent averages $223/mo less ($982 vs $1,205)
Homes cost $32k less ($157,800 vs $189,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Dearborn by $14,867/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$14,867
$64,600 vs $49,733/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
80% lower
292.6 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$32k less
$157,800 vs $189,400
Milwaukee
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 16 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 16 and Milwaukee wins 7. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $157,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Milwaukee, WI are about 247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.