Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
68% less violent crime than Springfield
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Rent averages $292/mo less ($913 vs $1,205)
Homes cost $42k less ($147,700 vs $189,400)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$2,181
$64,600 vs $62,419/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
68% lower
292.6 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$42k less
$147,700 vs $189,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 8 and Springfield wins 15. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $147,700 median home), income ($64,600 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Springfield, IL are about 378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.