Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
West Palm Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($189,400 vs $324,800)
49% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,614)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Income
$556
$64,600 vs $64,044/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
49% lower
292.6 vs 575.8 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$135k less
$189,400 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 13 and West Palm Beach wins 10. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $324,800 median home), income ($64,600 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.