Introduction

If you’ve been Googling “Is Dearborn, Michigan a good place to live?” you’re not alone. Dearborn is one of those places people notice for a few different reasons: it’s close to Detroit, it has major employers nearby, and it offers a very “real life” Metro Detroit lifestyle—work, errands, parks, and weekends that can be as chill or as busy as you want. (In other words: not a resort town… but also not trying to be.) Wikipedia+1
In this honest local breakdown, I’ll walk through location, housing, costs, taxes, things to do, and the practical pros/cons—so you can decide if Dearborn fits your day-to-day life, not just your Pinterest board. Census.gov

Where Is Dearborn, Michigan Located?

Dearborn is a city in Wayne County and an inner-ring suburb directly next to Detroit, sitting just west of downtown Detroit (about 7 miles, per commonly cited references). Wikipedia
From a “how does this help my commute?” standpoint, Dearborn is threaded into the Metro Detroit roadway network—most notably via the Southfield Freeway corridor (M-39), which connects with I-94 and runs through Dearborn. Wikipedia+1
If you like numbers, Dearborn covers about 24.25 square miles of land area and has a population density of about 4,535.7 people per square mile (2020). Census.gov

Cost of Living in Dearborn, Michigan

Housing is usually the biggest lever in the “cost of living” conversation. Based on U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2019–2023 ACS), the median value of owner-occupied housing units in Dearborn is about $205,900. Census.gov
For comparison, Michigan’s statewide median value is about $217,600 over the same ACS period—so Dearborn comes in a bit lower on that one headline metric. Census.gov
Rent is another reality-check number: Dearborn’s median gross rent is about $1,264 (2019–2023 ACS), while Michigan’s statewide median gross rent is about $1,084. Census.gov+1
Transportation costs vary person-to-person, but one helpful snapshot is commute time: Dearborn’s mean travel time to work is about 21.2 minutes (workers age 16+, 2019–2023 ACS). Census.gov

Real Estate & Housing Overview

If you’re trying to understand the “shape” of the housing market without crystal-ball predictions, here are a few grounded, data-backed anchors.
Homeownership in Dearborn is relatively common: the owner-occupied housing unit rate is about 68.2% (2019–2023 ACS). Census.gov
Monthly ownership costs can matter as much as the purchase price. QuickFacts lists median selected monthly owner costs (with a mortgage) at about $1,653 in Dearborn (2019–2023 ACS). Census.gov
If you’re specifically hunting for brand-new construction, note that the QuickFacts “Building Permits” line for Dearborn is marked as “X” (not displayed/applicable in that table), so you may need to rely on local planning/permit resources or MLS filters to estimate new-build supply. Census.gov
Practical takeaway: Dearborn often appeals to buyers who want a city-style layout and Metro Detroit access, with pricing that (on median value) is in the same general conversation as the Michigan average—but not identical in rent and monthly cost patterns. Census.gov+1

Property Taxes in Dearborn

Michigan property taxes can feel confusing until you learn the vocabulary: assessed value, state equalized value (SEV), taxable value, and millage. The short version is that Michigan’s system is built around the idea that assessments generally should not exceed 50% of true cash value (market value), as described in Michigan law and common Michigan property tax guidance. Michigan Legislature+2davisontwp-mi.gov+2
A big Michigan-specific detail is the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE): in general, a PRE can exempt a primary residence from the local school operating tax up to 18 mills (eligibility rules apply and you must file correctly). Michigan.gov+1
In Dearborn specifically, the city’s property tax information explains that summer taxes are levied July 1, and that a summer bill can include school tax, city tax, and county-allocated operating tax (and they outline installment options and due dates). Always confirm details directly with the city/treasurer for your exact property and year. dearborn.gov

Things to Do & Lifestyle

Dearborn is not a “one attraction and done” kind of place—there’s a steady mix of parks, cultural destinations, and easy access to the broader Metro Detroit area. dearborn.gov+1
For parks, the City of Dearborn notes it maintains seven community parks, and Ford Field Park is one example with amenities like ball fields, tennis courts, a soccer field, a sledding hill, and access along the Rouge River. dearborn.gov
On the “weekend plans” side, Dearborn is home to The Henry Ford (including the Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village), which is one of the area’s best-known destinations and is explicitly located in Dearborn. thehenryford.org+1
If you like being close to major corridors for shopping, dining, and getting around, the M-39/Southfield Freeway route description highlights how this corridor connects through Dearborn with interchanges near I-94 and US-12 (Michigan Avenue). Wikipedia

Schools & Education (Neutral Framing)

Dearborn is served by public school districts, and school fit can vary a lot by specific school and program—so it’s smart to check the exact schools tied to any address you’re considering.
For a neutral starting point, GreatSchools provides district and school profiles for Dearborn Public Schools and nearby options, including ratings, reviews, and program details (where available). GreatSchools.org+1
Niche also provides community and school-related snapshots that many relocating buyers use as an initial overview (then they verify specifics directly with the district and school).

Pros & Cons of Living in Dearborn

• Pro: Commute practicality—mean travel time to work is about 21.2 minutes (ACS 2019–2023). Census.gov

• Pro: Median home value is in the same ballpark as Michigan overall, and slightly lower on the median ($205,900 vs. $217,600, ACS 2019–2023). Census.gov+1

• Pro: City-maintained park access—Dearborn lists seven community parks with a wide range of amenities. dearborn.gov

• Pro: Major destinations and institutions are local, including The Henry Ford attractions in Dearborn. thehenryford.org+1

• Con: Rent runs higher than the Michigan median on ACS figures ($1,264 vs. $1,084). Census.gov+1

• Con: Monthly owner costs with a mortgage can also run higher than you might expect given the median home value ($1,653 listed for Dearborn, ACS 2019–2023). Census.gov

• Con: It’s fairly dense (about 4,535.7 people per square mile), which can mean a more “city-like” feel, parking patterns, and traffic at peak times versus outer suburbs. Census.gov

• Con: New-build visibility is harder to summarize from QuickFacts alone because the building permits line is not displayed (“X”) for Dearborn in that table. Census.gov

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Dearborn, Michigan

Q1: Is Dearborn, Michigan close to Detroit?
A: Yes—Dearborn borders Detroit and is commonly described as roughly 7 miles west of downtown Detroit. Wikipedia

Q2: What county is Dearborn in?
A: Dearborn is in Wayne County. Wikipedia+1

Q3: What is the average commute time for people living in Dearborn?
A: The mean travel time to work is about 21.2 minutes (ACS 2019–2023). Census.gov

Q4: What’s the median home value in Dearborn?
A: About $205,900 for median value of owner-occupied housing units (ACS 2019–2023). Census.gov

Q5: How does that compare to Michigan overall?
A: Michigan’s statewide median value is about $217,600 over the same ACS period. Census.gov

Q6: What’s the median rent in Dearborn?
A: Median gross rent is about $1,264 (ACS 2019–2023). Census.gov

Q7: Does Dearborn have a lot of parks?
A: The City of Dearborn states it maintains seven community parks, which are its largest green spaces. dearborn.gov

Q8: What’s a well-known park in Dearborn?
A: Ford Field Park is one example listed by the city, and the city outlines amenities like ball fields, courts, a sledding hill, and access near the Rouge River. dearborn.gov

Q9: What are the biggest attractions in Dearborn?
A: The Henry Ford (Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village) is a major destination located in Dearborn. thehenryford.org+1

Q10: What major roads help connect Dearborn to Metro Detroit?
A: M-39 (Southfield Freeway/Southfield Road) runs through Dearborn and connects with major routes including I-94 and US-12 (Michigan Avenue), per route descriptions. Wikipedia+1

Q11: How do property taxes generally work in Michigan?
A: Michigan commonly explains assessments as tied to true cash value (market value), with assessed/SEV concepts and taxable value rules described in Michigan guidance and law. Michigan Legislature+2dearborn.gov+2

Q12: What is a Principal Residence Exemption (PRE)?
A: A PRE can exempt a principal residence from the school operating tax up to 18 mills (eligibility and filing rules apply). Michigan.gov+1

Q13: When are Dearborn summer taxes billed?
A: Dearborn’s property tax information states summer taxes are levied July 1 each year, with due dates and installment options listed by the city. dearborn.gov

Q14: What school district serves Dearborn?
A: Dearborn Public Schools serves many addresses in the city, and GreatSchools provides district profiles and school listings you can use to verify options by address. GreatSchools.org+1

Q15: How big is Dearborn (size and density)?
A: Dearborn has about 24.25 square miles of land area and a population density of about 4,535.7 people per square mile (2020). Census.gov

To Conclude:

If you're looking to move to, from, or within the state of Michigan in one day or a million, I help people do just that and I love it as a Michigan Realtor. Please reach out anytime for help — I’m happy to be your go-to resource.

Question for you!

What’s your top priority in Dearborn—being close to Detroit, finding the right home price, or having parks and things to do nearby?