Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($189,400 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $524/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $23,866/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $23,866 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Dearborn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$115k less
$189,400 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$23,866
$88,466 vs $64,600/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
19% lower
235.7 vs 292.6 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.8% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.