Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($189,400 vs $318,600)
39% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $5,692 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Dearborn by $5,692/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Median Income
$5,692
$64,600 vs $58,908/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
39% lower
292.6 vs 482.8 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$129k less
$189,400 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 10 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $318,600 median home), income ($64,600 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Wilmington, NC are about 630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.