Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($189,400 vs $333,200)
34% less violent crime than Tampa
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,422)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
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
34% lower
292.6 vs 444.6 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$144k less
$189,400 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$2,202
$66,802 vs $64,600/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Tampa, 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 | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 11 and Tampa wins 12. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $333,200 median home), income ($64,600 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Tampa, FL are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.