Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Dearborn leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
Ontario
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($189,400 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $621/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $13,470/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,470 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Dearborn
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$324k less
$189,400 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$13,470
$78,070 vs $64,600/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
7% lower
272.2 vs 292.6 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 12 and Ontario wins 11. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $513,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Ontario, CA are about 1,939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.