Ann Arbor vs Detroit
Ann Arbor, Michigan versus Detroit, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Ann Arbor edges out Detroit on overall objective livability (49 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Ann Arbor | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $79k | $38k |
| Cost of Living | $54k | $43k |
| Home Value | $417k | $67k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $989 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $23k | $122k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.69% | 2.04% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 6.70% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.22% | 12.29% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | 14.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9 in | 34.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3 in | 30.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 230 days | 244 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 82 days | 105 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 32.4 | 17.7 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 60 AQI |
| School Quality | 89.6 | 86.9 |
| Violent Crime | 911/100k | 4531/100k |
| Property Crime | 1725/100k | 4488/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 636,787 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.48 | 0.38 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | D+47 | D+39 |
| White (%) | 67.6% | 10.1% |
| Black (%) | 6.4% | 77.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.8% | 7.5% |
| Asian (%) | 16.1% | 1.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.2% | 3.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 15.4/20 | 14.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 20 mi | 16 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.2% | 79.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 50.40 | 15.56 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ann Arbor or Detroit more affordable?
- Detroit has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Ann Arbor's $54k and Detroit's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Ann Arbor versus $989 in Detroit.
- Is Ann Arbor or Detroit safer?
- Ann Arbor has the lower violent crime rate. Ann Arbor reports 911/100k and Detroit reports 4531/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Ann Arbor or Detroit?
- The median home value is $417k in Ann Arbor and $67k in Detroit, so homes are more affordable in Detroit.