Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
St. Petersburg
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($189,400 vs $289,000)
53% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,410)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $5,733/yr
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Households earn $5,733 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
53% lower
292.6 vs 619.6 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$100k less
$189,400 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$5,733
$70,333 vs $64,600/yr
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Dearborn wins 11 and St. Petersburg wins 11. 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. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $289,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.