Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
9% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.8%)
Households earn $13,149 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $27k less ($162,800 vs $189,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
Cons
Median income trails Dearborn by $13,149/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.8%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$13,149
$64,600 vs $51,451/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
9% lower
292.6 vs 322.5 per 100k
Dearborn
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$27k less
$162,800 vs $189,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ 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 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 14 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 14 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Waterbury, CT are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.