Baltimore receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Baltimore
Dearborn Heights
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 28%
vs45 · Bottom 24%
Growth
26 · Bottom 11%
vs31 · Bottom 17%
Climate
71 · Top 46%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 9%
vs81 · Top 22%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 49%
vs80 · Top 43%
Access
98 · Top 25%
vs99 · Top 18%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 14%
vs38 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Baltimore | Dearborn Heights | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 573,243 | 61,771 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,177 | $60,391 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,604 | $29,366 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,082/sq mi | 5,263/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $229,600 | $185,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,331 | $1,331 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 47.5% | 70.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 23.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.7% | 21.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 885 | 11 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -29.8% | 57.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 34.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 25.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.2 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Baltimore
64
Your Score
64
Area Score
Dearborn Heights
62
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Baltimore, MD · Dearborn Heights, MI · How this is calculated: methodology