Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 22 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
St. Paul
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
53% less violent crime than St. Paul
Homes cost $76k less ($189,400 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 24°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails St. Paul by $5,319/yr
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,319 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Dearborn
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
53% lower
292.6 vs 617.7 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$76k less
$189,400 vs $264,900
St. Paul
Median Income
$5,319
$69,919 vs $64,600/yr
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 22 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and St. Paul wins 9. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $264,900 median home), income ($64,600 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and St. Paul, MN are about 527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.