Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
51% less violent crime than San Antonio
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,007 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Dearborn by $5,007/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$5,007
$64,600 vs $59,593/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
51% lower
292.6 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $198,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and San Antonio, TX are about 1,230 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.