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Living in
Dearborn Heights.
About
Life in Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights is a practical suburban choice if you're working in the Detroit metro area and want something more affordable than many outer suburbs while staying close to the city. The 24-minute average commute is reasonable, and median home prices around $185,000 give you actual purchasing power compared to national averages. The community is genuinely diverse with an established Arab population alongside long-rooted Polish, Italian, and Irish neighborhoods—you'll find authentic businesses and cultural presence reflecting that mix.
Dearborn Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.9%
Foreign-Born
24.5%
Broadband Internet
91.1%
of households
Population Growth
-4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.5% foreign-born, most often from Lebanon
Who lives in Dearborn Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dearborn Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Lebanon (42.4%), and 34.1% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
25.2%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.0%
of households
Married Couples
47.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Dearborn Heights
In Dearborn Heights, rent runs 18% above the MI average, and home values are 20% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,036
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $212,637 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MI
Unemployment in Dearborn Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dearborn Heights is close to the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Dearborn Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute23.9 min avg
How Dearborn Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dearborn Heights, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 17% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dearborn Heights runs 17% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
386.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,260.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dearborn Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wayne County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wayne County, which includes Dearborn Heights, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19.3M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $139.6M |
| 2020 | 27 | Lakeshore Flood | $950,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Lakeshore Flood | $67.8M |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Wayne County, county-wide
Dearborn Heights is about 3% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wayne County, which includes Dearborn Heights, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
132
per year
Moderate Days
222
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Wayne County, county-wide
Dearborn Heights is about 3% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dearborn Heights has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.1"
Annual Snowfall
30.8"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
136
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.51" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 2.27" |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 2.29" |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.26" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.60" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 3.28" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 3.54" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.01" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 2.87" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.74" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dearborn Heights
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Dearborn Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Garden City Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Garden City
Metropolitan Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 3.6 mi away · Dearborn
Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Dearborn
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
22
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Dearborn Heights (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Schoolcraft Community College District
10.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,511 students · in-state tuition $4,736 · 20% graduate · median earnings $45,652 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
11.4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,423 students · in-state tuition $3,112 · 20% graduate · median earnings $34,732 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Michigan-Dearborn
2.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,952 students · in-state tuition $16,240 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,438 students · in-state tuition $33,604 · 69% graduate · median earnings $74,106 (10 yrs after entry)
Lawrence Technological University
11 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,668 students · in-state tuition $45,840 · 64% graduate · median earnings $78,800 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
28 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
52 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights City Libraries
24590 George Street, Dearborn Heights
John F. Kennedy, Jr. Library
24602 Van Born Road, Dearborn Heights
Cities Near Dearborn Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dearborn Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dearborn Heights FAQ
Is Dearborn Heights, Michigan affordable?⌄
Dearborn Heights's median rent is $1,331/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $60,391/year. Median home value is $185,100.
Is Dearborn Heights, Michigan safe?⌄
Dearborn Heights's violent crime rate was 387 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1260 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dearborn Heights, Michigan?⌄
Dearborn Heights has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dearborn Heights, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Dearborn Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,331/month and median household income is $60,391/year. The median home value is $185,100. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dearborn Heights, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Dearborn Heights is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from