Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($189,400 vs $450,500)
61% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,592)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $14,354/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,354 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
61% lower
292.6 vs 754.9 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$261k less
$189,400 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$14,354
$78,954 vs $64,600/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 11 and Sacramento wins 12. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($64,600 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Sacramento, CA are about 2,011 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.