Dearborn vs Detroit
Dearborn, 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.
Dearborn edges out Detroit on overall objective livability (53 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Dearborn | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $65k | $38k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $189k | $67k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $989 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.97% | 2.04% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 6.70% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.06% | 12.29% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | 14.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0 in | 34.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8 in | 30.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 147 days | 244 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 98 days | 105 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 47.8 | 17.7 |
| Air Quality | 26 AQI | 60 AQI |
| School Quality | 63.3 | 86.9 |
| Violent Crime | 1234/100k | 4531/100k |
| Property Crime | 1934/100k | 4488/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 636,787 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.22 | 0.38 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | D+39 | D+39 |
| White (%) | 86.7% | 10.1% |
| Black (%) | 3.2% | 77.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.8% | 7.5% |
| Asian (%) | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 12.2/20 | 14.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 10 mi | 16 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.7% | 79.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 51.10 | 15.56 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | 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 Dearborn or Detroit more affordable?
- Detroit has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Dearborn's $43k and Detroit's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Dearborn versus $989 in Detroit.
- Is Dearborn or Detroit safer?
- Dearborn has the lower violent crime rate. Dearborn reports 1234/100k and Detroit reports 4531/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Dearborn or Detroit?
- The median home value is $189k in Dearborn and $67k in Detroit, so homes are more affordable in Detroit.