Dearborn, also known as the Arab Capital of America, is a culturally rich suburb situated approximately 10 miles west of downtown Detroit. Featuring copious career opportunities, plentiful shopping options and convenient access to downtown Detroit, this suburb has been highly sought-after for the past few years. It's roughly 25 square miles and has a population of over 108,000, making it the seventh-largest city in Michigan.
“Because it was a melting pot of people from all over the world who wanted to work at Henry Ford on the assembly line, you have all these people from difficult cultures and backgrounds,” says Michael Phillips, owner of Keller Williams Legacy and lifelong Dearborn resident. “Dearborn represents what America is. In some parts of [the city], you feel like you're in other parts of the world.”
According to Census data, over 54% of Dearborn residents are Arab, with Lebanese and Yemeni people making up much of the group. Middle Eastern and North African culture heavily influence the city’s culture. Not only is the city home to the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, the largest mosque in the nation, but also the Arab American National Museum, along with numerous halal and Middle Eastern restaurants and grocery stores.
Dearborn is the seventh-largest city in Detroit and a rich cultural hub just west of Detroit.
Dearborn is home to the the largest mosque in the nation, the Islamic Center of America.
The Henry Ford Museum highlights Dearborn as the birthplace of Henry Ford and automotive-mecca.
Local culture can be found in cafes and restaurants throughout Dearborn's walkable downtown.
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Henry Ford, corporate careers and highway access
Internationally recognized as the birthplace of Henry Ford, Dearborn is home to Ford Motor Company’s World Headquarters and largest industrial complex. Covering over 600 acres in the Henry Ford-Fairlane neighborhood, Ford’s Rouge Plant provides work for over 15,000 people. Other leading manufacturers include Eppinger Manufacturing and Cliffs Steel, although the latter recently came under fire for air pollution violations. In 2023, Cliffs Steel spent over $100 million on overhauling its Dearborn facility's air pollution control system after regulators discovered they were releasing too much lead, manganese and visible emissions into the air.
Residents can also easily commute to Detroit or Southfield for work. Freeways I-94, I-96, and I-75 are major transportation routes in the city. Ford Road, Michigan Avenue, Telegraph Road and the Southfield Freeway are key transportation routes. “You can hit every major highway in a 5 to 10-minute drive,” Phillips says.
Bus options include SMART Public Bus Transit routes, which usually run once an hour. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is a 12-mile drive west of the city and the Coleman A. Young International Airport is a 12-mile drive east. The Dearborn Amtrak station runs through Dearborn’s center along Michigan Avenue.
Dearborn City School District and two top colleges
The Dearborn City School District serves the city’s youth and holds a B rating on Niche. It's ranked as the 13th best in Wayne County and serves 20,000 students across 33 campuses.
University of Michigan – Dearborn, which has a B–plus rating on Niche, is also in the city, adjacent to Fairlane Town Center. Ranked the 5th best four-year college in Michigan, U of M Dearborn is a popular choice for students looking to study psychology or engineering. Henry Ford Community College, which serves about 4,000 undergraduate students and has a C-plus Niche rating, is a popular choice for people looking to study business, nursing, and humanities.
Students come first at the Bryant Middle School located in the Levagood-Clark neighborhood.
Dearborn High School is a public school founded in Dearborn in 1893.
Fordson High School offers SAT and ACT prep for rising seniors in Downtown Dearborn.
Henry Ford Early College for advanced manufacturing and engineering studies in Dearborn.
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Over 40 parks, ample recreation options and free community resources
Dearborn is home to 43 public parks, athletic fields and entertainment venues. Ford Field Park in Morley is the city’s most popular greenspace and features scenic views of the Rouge River and access to the Rouge River Getaway Trail. With a playground, picnic shelters, tennis courts, soccer fields and a baseball field, it's a popular place to spend sunny summer days. Residents can tee up at TPC Michigan in the Springwells Dearborn community. It's a membership-based golf club with an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus championship golf course and a 3-tiered grass practice facility. The Dearborn Country Club also features a golf course for its members, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a ballroom banquet and year-round special events.
The Dearborn Ice Skating Center in Ford Woods is a public hockey and ice-skating facility with two rinks, concessions, and a retail store. Attracting locals year-round, this highly rated facility has served the city since 1996. For swimming, fitness, sports, music, art and other activities, residents can head to the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. The modern facility has a fitness center, an indoor pool, an art gallery, and a performing arts theater. The Ford-Wyoming drive-in movie theater has been a date night staple since its opening in 1950, featuring five screens, concessions and nightly double features.
There are also programs to build community bonds and assist residents in need. Dearborn is often regarded for its residents who support one another, and a new program launched under Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud embodies the city’s togetherness. The Mayor’s Service Corps Program is a volunteer effort for high school students in Dearborn Public Schools who are interested in helping their communities. Shoveling snow, community cleanup and park clean-ups are just a few of the efforts the program tackles.
According to Census data, 93% of Dearborn residents speak a language other than English, with 55% speaking English less than “very well”. The city offers free, weekly Conversation Circles through the Dearborn Public Library to assist learners, providing a safe space for practicing English, learning new vocabulary and developing confidence. Similarly, the branch offers Mango Languages, an online language system that teaches conversation skills for practical communication.
Dearborn residents can enjoy scenic views of the Rouge River on the Rouge River Getaway Trail.
Two indoor ice rinks host regular events and programs at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center.
Ford Community & Performing Arts Center provides easy access to indoor fitness facilities.
Ford-Wyoming Drive-In opened in 1950 and features five screens in Claytown.
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Fairlane Mall, shopping districts and a growing downtown
Detroit doesn’t currently have big box stores like Walmart or Target, and it doesn’t have a super-regional shopping mall, so many residents drive into Dearborn for their retail needs. The city is home to a slew of merchants, as well as Fairlane Mall, which houses over 125 stores and restaurants. Along Ford Road, strip malls like Fairlane North and Fairlane Meadows house big box stores. On Michigan and Telegraph, residents shop at Westborn Mall and Dearborn Plaza.
While Dearborn is home to ample chain stores and restaurants, small businesses are the pulse of this city. It’s distinguished by its quality Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, especially restaurants with halal options. These restaurants are mostly found in pockets along Michigan Avenue, Ford Road and Warren, especially on the city’s east side.
Dearborn doesn’t have a robust downtown, but that’s starting to change. “Downtown has gone through, and is going through, a renovation,” Phillips says. On Michigan Avenue, between Brady and Outer Drive, the city’s wide streets become narrower. Sidewalks make it easier to get around on foot. There’s a slew of new restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques. There are also new condo developments as well as a new city Peace Park.
“The city has taken a very proactive approach to make the downtown area more walkable,” Phillips says. “They want to make it more of a hangout. It’s really become the place to be.”
Residents of Dearborn can shop over 120 stores at the massive Fairlane Town Center.
Shoppers from across Detroit flock to Dearborn's big box locations for retail needs.
Cultural foods can be found at various small grocers across Dearborn.
Khalaf Grill serves traditional middle-eastern cuisine to hungry Dearborn diners.
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Fast selling, longstanding homes for every budget
From townhouses in downtown Dearborn to original Ford homes in the Ford Homes Historic District neighborhood, Dearborn has housing options for almost every taste and budget. Every neighborhood offers something slightly different, but they’re all highly sought-after. Homes hardly hit the market, but when they do, they often sell above the asking price. They also sell relatively fast, with an average of just 15 days on the market before sale. For comparison, the US average is 44 days. The median sale price is about $295,000, but prices can start as low as $100,000 for a fixer-upper in Aviation and climb to $1.6 million for a mansion in Dearborn Hills .
Homes across Dearborn sell fast with a average of just 15 days on the real estate market.
Downtown townhouses provide easy access to Dearborn amenities and are highly sought after.
Larger homes in tight residential communities can be found on Dearborn's northwest side.
Homes closer to Dearborn's downtown tend to be more compact with efficient lot sizes.
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Dearborn Homecoming Fest, JAM3A and Michigan’s oldest Memorial Day Parade
While Dearborn is considered a quiet suburb, it hosts several big events throughout the year. The annual Homecoming Festival is a three-day event at Ford Field Park every August. Featuring a carnival, live music, a food truck corridor, and two days of fireworks, this annual event showcases the diverse cultures that make Dearborn unique. While staple carnival foods are found at this event, there is also a unique mix of Polish and Arab food vendors. The Arab American National Museum hosts the annual JAM3A Music & Arts Festival, a free event featuring live music, culinary walking tours and a Film Fest. Michigan’s oldest Memorial Day Parade also takes place in the city.
The Michael A. Guido Theater seats over 1,200 for regular shows in the heart of Dearborn.
Well-manicured public spaces in downtown Dearborn serve as hosting locations for local events.
Arab American National Museum helps to educate the greater Dearborn area of the city's culture.
A covered bridge separates the Ford Fields from the park's open event spaces.
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Less crime than national and state levels
In 2023, Dearborn reported a violent crime rate that was 31% lower than the Michigan average and 10% lower than the US average. On the other hand, the city reported a property crime rate that was 28% higher than the Michigan average and 9% higher than the US average.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
