City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Dearborn Heights, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dearborn Heights - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

62,099
Residents
$61,035
Median income
$174,900
Median home
$1,411
Median rent (state)

Dearborn Heights - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Dearborn Heights lands in the 37th percentile for household income and the 40th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

37th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
55th
percentile, median rent
40th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dearborn Heights, MI

Dearborn Heights is a small city in Michigan, home to 62,099 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Dearborn Heights households earn a median of $61,035 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.4%. Typical homes in Dearborn Heights are valued around $174,900, and the median resident age is 35.8 years. 23.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 53.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 8 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 58% from five years earlier. Dearborn Heights reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1697.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,411 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Dearborn Heights workers runs 21.9 minutes, with 77.6% driving alone and 9.9% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

62,099 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$61,035 /yr

Poverty 16.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Dearborn Heights compare to other US cities?

Dearborn Heights measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 55% pricier than other cities
Safety 40% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Michigan and the picture shifts: Dearborn Heights ranks #170 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Dearborn Heights against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Dearborn Heights toward the top of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Dearborn Heights ranks #131 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dearborn Heights only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#344 of 718
52nd percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#61 of 727
76th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#288 of 721
60th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#131 of 727
82nd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#282 of 727
61st percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

37thIncome percentile
40thSafety percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income · 40th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Dearborn Heights's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Dearborn Heights's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 44 Avg. percentile National median
Dearborn Heights's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Dearborn Heights's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$174,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dearborn Heights $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dearborn Heights, MI Dearborn Heights, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dearborn Heights, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dearborn Heights, MI median $61,035/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dearborn Heights, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dearborn Heights, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
62,099
Median Income
$61,035
Median Home Value
$174,900
Median Age
35.8
Poverty Rate
16.4%
Labor force participation
53.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1697.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
458.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1238.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
20
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
60,000 residents61,000 residents62,000 residents63,000 residents64,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 63,037 residents 60,664 residents ▼ -3.8%
Dearborn Heights's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
8
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 19
2020 10
2021 14
2022 14
2023 13
2024 8

Permit volume decreased 58% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.9 minutes
Drive Alone
77.6%
Carpool
10.1%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
9.9%
Other
1.0%

Based on 25,101 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dearborn Heights sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,411/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Pontiac
61,914 people
Taylor
62,405 people
St. Clair Shores
58,287 people
Novi
66,224 people
Royal Oak
57,880 people
Kentwood
54,114 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dearborn Heights's 62,099 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Horizon West, FL
62,152 people
La Habra, CA
62,233 people
St. Cloud, FL
61,963 people
Richland, WA
61,912 people
Sanford, FL
62,292 people
Hendersonville, TN
62,390 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dearborn Heights's $61,035 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Paincourtville, LA
$61,037 median income
Enterprise, KS
$61,029 median income
Osceola, WI
$61,029 median income
Bergman, AR
$61,042 median income
Turkey Creek, LA
$61,042 median income
New Paris, PA
$61,042 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dearborn Heights, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dearborn Heights, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.4% 9.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.1% White 83.4% Black or African American 9.1% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 5.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dearborn Heights compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dearborn Heights (this city) 62,099 $61,035
Pontiac 61,914 $42,791
Taylor 62,405 $59,537
St. Clair Shores 58,287 $72,693
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dearborn Heights, MI?

What is the population of Dearborn Heights, MI? +

62,099 people live in Dearborn Heights, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dearborn Heights, MI? +

Dearborn Heights households earn a median of $61,035 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dearborn Heights? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dearborn Heights; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Dearborn Heights, MI safe? +

Dearborn Heights has a total crime rate of 1697.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Dearborn Heights, MI? +

Homes in Dearborn Heights carry a median value of $174,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.