Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($189,400 vs $415,300)
72% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,489)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $14,485/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $14,485 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
72% lower
292.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$226k less
$189,400 vs $415,300
Dearborn
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$14,485
$79,085 vs $64,600/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 14 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($64,600 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Tacoma, WA are about 1,934 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.