Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Dearborn leads 12 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $371k less ($189,400 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $936/mo less ($1,205 vs $2,141)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $42,164/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,164 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Dearborn
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$371k less
$189,400 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$42,164
$106,764 vs $64,600/yr
Vacaville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 12 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 12 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $560,400 median home), income ($64,600 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Vacaville, CA are about 2,042 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.