Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($189,400 vs $328,700)
75% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 22°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $11,732/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $11,732 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
75% lower
292.6 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$139k less
$189,400 vs $328,700
Minneapolis
Median Income
$11,732
$76,332 vs $64,600/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $328,700 median home), income ($64,600 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Minneapolis, MN are about 535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.