Dearborn is a city of 105,611, and it grades C− overall, 601st of 697 graded towns in Michigan. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 77% of U.S. towns. The trade-off: homes are expensive, about $248K for a typical one and 3.2 times the Detroit metro’s $77K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 94% of U.S. towns, with 9 places on the National Register. 24% of residents live below the poverty line in Dearborn, against 8.9% in Michigan’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. On history, just 47 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns do better. Dearborn is home to Henry Ford College.

StrongestAHistory AOutdoors A⁻WalkabilityWeakestC⁻Cost of living CSafety

What makes Dearborn stand out

Where Dearborn beats most towns.

Fair Lane

HistoryA

Settled in 1786

A history going back 240 years.

Including David Burtka and Garrett Clayton.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here76,721

Residents who work36,209

Work

2.1 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 94% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2021.

Fair Lane · National Register of Historic Places

Dearborn’s story

240 years in pictures

Fair Lane is one of 3 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1786, comes before those of 99% of the Michigan towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 355 in 1860, 109,976 in 2020. The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1912 and 8 maps from 1905 on.

9 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1786Dearborn is settled

Explore the history →

How Dearborn grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Dearborn is from typical.

How grading works

Cost of livingC⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.8 of 20; 8.3% of households have no car; 2.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁻Open →SafetyCOpen →HealthBeaumont Hospital - Dearborn 1.5 miles awayCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 33% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB⁺Open →Jobs & income$65K median household income; 76,721 jobs based hereCOpen →SchoolsBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors11% conserved landAOpen →History63 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life2 library visits per resident; 2.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market14 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.3–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Michigan Stadium and 53 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dearborn. Close and well known come first.

All 69 attractions →

Big draw28 mi Stadium & arenaMichigan Stadium

in town MuseumThe Henry Ford1.8M visitors a year

Big draw9 mi Stadium & arenaFord Field

9 mi Stadium & arenaComerica Park

8 mi TheatreFox Theatre

8 mi MuseumDetroit Institute of Arts

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Michigan Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Henry Ford: Alvintrusty, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ford Field: Unknown, CC BY 2.5 · Comerica Park: City of Detroit, Public domain · Fox Theatre: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Detroit Institute of Arts: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting set up

Moving to Dearborn: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Dearborn, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterDearborn water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site

SchoolsDearborn City School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereDearborn City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025

ZIP codes48126, 48124, 48128, 4812048126 51% · 48124 31% · 48128 11% · 48120 8%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Dearborn.

Dearborn draws workers from Detroit and beyond and costs more than Dearborn Heights or any other town next door, but it has poverty well above the Michigan rate.

OutdoorsA

Conserved land covers 10.8% of Dearborn

48 miles of trail in 43 parks and preserves. Dearborn’s trail density is 2.0 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Ford Field, 60 acres with 1.8 miles of trail.

#55for trails in MI

10.8%

conserved · 1,678 of 15,592 acres

48 mi

of trails · 1.9 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Ford Field	1.8 mi	60
2. Edison's Menlo Park	1.4 mi	27
3. Levagood Park	1.1 mi	36

Full pageDearborn’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map48 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk1.8 miles of trail · Ford Field Conserved land10.8% conserved · 1,678 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Dearborn?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsB

On state tests, Dearborn’s schools beat 64% of Michigan districts

Its public schools are run by the Dearborn City School District. Three of its 47 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

64%of MI districts it outscoresBSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Bryant Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	781	B
Fordson High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,966	B
Henry Ford Early CollegeTop results in townGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	220	A

Full pageDearborn’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsDearborn City School District Vs. the neighborsAhead of 3 of its 4 graded neighbors Every school47 schools · Henry Ford Elementary School Questions“Are Dearborn’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C

About one in four working residents works right in Dearborn

76,721 jobs are based in Dearborn, 2.1 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

About one in 4 of Dearborn’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Dearborn is 22 minutes. The top destinations are Detroit (15%), Southfield (4%) and Livonia (4%).

23%work in town

	Dearborn	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	23%	5.9%	8%
Average trip to work	22 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$65,000	$77,000	$80,000
Work from home	13%	10%	11%

Where working residents work

In Dearborn23%

Detroit15%

Southfield4%

Livonia4%

Troy3%

10 mi

median commute distance

76,721

jobs based in Dearborn

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 77% of U.S. towns

Full pageDearborn’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here76,721 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work23% work in Dearborn Commute times22 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 10 miles

Census LEHD 2021 · ACS

SafetyC

More crime per resident in Dearborn than in 74% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes fell from 2,597 to 2,083 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

26%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Dearborn2.5

Michigan4.3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Dearborn17.2

Michigan13

U.S.15.5

26th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

28th

percentile among MI towns

263

violent crimes reported in 2025

1,820

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageDearborn’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2.5 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 4 graded neighbors Questions“Is Dearborn, MI safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HealthC

Dearborn is less healthy than 69% of U.S. towns

Dearborn beats the Michigan average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17. 22% of adults report frequent mental distress in Dearborn.

31%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Dearborn	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	22%	18%	17%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	29%	27%	23%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	21%	14%	14%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	18%	15%	14%

32 measures vs. Michigan

2 better13 too close to call17 worse

What stands out	Dearborn	MI
Fewer adults who have had cancer	8%	8.9%
Fewer adults with high blood pressure	34.1%	36.7%
More adults without reliable transportation	11.4%	8.3%

Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn

1.5 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

30th

percentile among MI towns

Full pageDearborn’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby1.5 miles to an ER · Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn How adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than MI on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Dearborn

Dearborn has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 19° and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.

31″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter21–35°

Spring38–58°

Summer61–82°

Fall43–62°

Oct 15

typical first frost

May 1

typical last frost

+1.6°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageDearborn’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 19°Rain & snow31″ of snow a winter · 34 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B⁺

Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Dearborn

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 67% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 53 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Dearborn.

33risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageDearborn’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims53 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters5 federal disasters · Paid out in Dearborn Get ready3.1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Who lives here

More children than Michigan overall

24.3% of residents live below the poverty line, against 13.2% across Michigan, which weighs on its C for jobs and income.

Children under 18 are 29% of residents (21% statewide); people 65 and older are 14% of residents (19% statewide). 35% of Dearborn adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. Dearborn has lost 4% of its people since 2020, down to 105,611 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

33.3median age · MI 40.2

	Dearborn	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	29%	21%	22%
Median age	33.3 years	42.5 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	14%	19%	18%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	35%	26%	29%

DearbornMichiganUnited States

MIU.S.

Ages · share of residents

15%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma16%

High school23%

Some college17%

Associate’s10%

Bachelor’s21%

Graduate14%

Women and men · all residents

51% women, 49% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1 point. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women. Median age: women 34.6, men 32.0.

Ages and education in Dearborn
	Dearborn	MI	U.S.
Under 10	14.8%	11.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	13.9%	10.1%	10.3%
18 to 24	9.5%	9.2%	9.1%
25 to 34	14.1%	13.2%	13.7%
35 to 44	12.3%	12.2%	13.2%
45 to 54	11.1%	12%	12.2%
55 to 64	10.6%	13.6%	12.7%
65 to 74	8.3%	11.2%	10.2%
75 and older	5.4%	7.4%	7%
No diploma	15.9%	7.9%	10.4%
High school	22.5%	28%	26%
Some college	17.2%	21.9%	19.1%
Associate’s	9.8%	9.8%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	20.7%	19.7%	21.6%
Graduate	14%	12.7%	14.1%

Full pageDearborn by the numbersOpen the page

Ages33.3 median age · 14% are 65 or older Schooling35% have a four-year degree Homes68% own their home · Homeowners Income$65K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

Dearborn’s grade for cost of living is a C−

Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Dearborn Heights is next at $213K. 64.3% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 50.4% across Michigan.

The typical Dearborn home is worth about $248,000, up 3.8% in a year, 6% below the Michigan typical home.

$248KZillow home value

	Dearborn	Michigan towns	U.S. towns
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	64%	45%	48%
Households that own their home	68%	84%	73%
Median rent	$1,327 a month	$1,045 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Dearborn$248K

Michigan$264K

Market temperature

days on market

100.6%

sale-to-list price

+3.8%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageDearborn’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 3.8% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.8 years of income Rents$1,327 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 4 graded neighbors

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Dearborn

20pages on Dearborn

The big questions

SchoolsBBeat 64% of MI districts · 47 schools SafetyC2.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than MI on 2 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁻$248K typical home · up 3.8% in a year Work & commuteC$65K median household income · 76,721 jobs here Natural hazardsB⁺FEMA risk higher than 33% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA48 mi of trails · 11% conserved land PlacesAttractions69 nearby · The Henry Ford under 1 mi LibraryC2 library visits per resident CollegesUniversity of Michigan-Dearborn, in town

The story

HistoryASettled 1786 · 9 on the National Register Famous people63 born in Dearborn Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 132 residents Climate84° summer highs · 31″ of snow

Day to day

News6 recent stories about Dearborn WeatherHandbookZIP code 48120, 48121, 48123 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

14 within 15 miles of the center of Dearborn

University of Michigan-DearbornUniversity or college · Public · DearbornIn town$15,640 in-state tuition Henry Ford CollegeCommunity college · Public · DearbornIn town$3,568 in-state tuition Wayne County Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · Detroit8.1 mi$3,112 in-state tuition

About 9 of every 100 Dearborn residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Henry Ford College calls Dearborn home

2 colleges in town.

Henry Ford College7,494 students on campus

Admission: Open
Net price: $660
Graduate: 17%

University of Michigan-Dearborn6,735 students on campus

Admission: 56%
Net price: $9,492
Graduate: 58%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

9 places in Dearborn on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Fair LaneBuilt 1915 · National Historic Landmark

Greenfield Village and Henry Ford MuseumBuilt 1929 · National Historic Landmark

Ford River Rouge ComplexNational Historic Landmark

Commandant's Quarters

Famous people from Dearborn

63 notable people were born in Dearborn.

See all 63 →

David BurtkaAmerican actor and professional chef · born 1975

Garrett ClaytonAmerican actor, singer and dancer · born 1991

Johnny PacarAmerican actor · born 1981

Brian RafalskiAmerican ice hockey player · born 1973

Lawrence WarbasseAmerican road cyclist · born 1990

Ashley FiolekAmerican motorcycle racer · born 1990

About Dearborn

City in Michigan, United States

Official town website ↗

Dearborn is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Dearborn borders Detroit to the north and east, roughly 7 miles (11.3 km) west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 109,976, ranking as the seventh-most populous city in Michigan. Dearborn is best known as the hometown of the Ford Motor Company and of its founder, Henry Ford. The first written settlement of Dearborn is from the 18th century by French-Canadian voyageurs who initially called the settlement La Belle Fontaine or Place aux Fontaines because of the abundant springs in the area. Therefore, Dearborn was once named Springwells, an anglicization of the Fren…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1786
Area: 25 sq mi
Elevation: 591 ft
ZIP code: 48120, 48121, 48123
Area code: 313

Dearborn’s neighbors

4 towns share a border with Dearborn.

Explore the map →

Melvindale next door grades lower for schools (C to Dearborn’s B) and higher for cost of living (B to C−).

DetroitMelvindaleDearborn HeightsAllen ParkDearborn

Detroit

NE · 15% of Dearborn workers commute here

Visit

Melvindale

Visit

Dearborn Heights

W · 2% of Dearborn workers commute here

Visit

Allen Park

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	MI rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Dearborn	#601	C⁻	C⁻	C	B	C
Detroit	#680	D	B⁺	D⁻	C⁻	D⁻
Melvindale	#654	D	B	C	C	D⁻
Dearborn Heights	#594	C⁻	C	C	B⁺	C
Allen Park	#382	B⁻	B⁻	C⁺	B⁻	B⁺

Compare Dearborn with a neighbor →

Questions about Dearborn

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Dearborn, MI a good place to live?

Dearborn grades C− overall, better than 19% of U.S. towns and #601 of 697 in Michigan. It grades C for health, C for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.

Is Dearborn, MI expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Dearborn, MI known for?

63 notable people were born here, including David Burtka and Garrett Clayton.

Post to Dearborn

Check your email

DearbornMI

What is it like to live in Dearborn?

What makes Dearborn stand out

Jobs vs. working residents

240 years in pictures

How Dearborn grades

Michigan Stadium and 53 more within 40 miles

Moving to Dearborn: who provides what

The data

Conserved land covers 10.8% of Dearborn

On state tests, Dearborn’s schools beat 64% of Michigan districts

About one in four working residents works right in Dearborn

Where working residents work

More crime per resident in Dearborn than in 74% of U.S. towns

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Dearborn is less healthy than 69% of U.S. towns

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Dearborn

Typical low → high °F

Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Dearborn

More children than Michigan overall

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

Dearborn’s grade for cost of living is a C−

Typical home value

Everything we know about Dearborn

Colleges nearby

Henry Ford College calls Dearborn home

Landmarks

Famous people from Dearborn

About Dearborn

Dearborn’s neighbors

Questions about Dearborn