Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 15 of 22 categories
Detroit
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($66,700 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $246/mo less ($989 vs $1,235)
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $54,697/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 5.0%)
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $54,697 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 9.7 pts lower (5.0%)
87% less violent crime than Detroit
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$182k less
$66,700 vs $249,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Livonia
Median Income
$54,697
$92,458 vs $37,761/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
87% lower
228.1 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
9.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $249,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" | 33.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Livonia leads 15 of 22 categories. Detroit wins 7 and Livonia wins 15. 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 Detroit to Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $249,000 median home), income ($37,761 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Livonia, MI are about 14 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.