Demographics of Dearborn, Michigan

Population and Households

Dearborn is a city located in Wayne County, Michigan with a population of around 94,333 as of the 2020 census. Some key facts about Dearborn’s population and households:

Population Breakdown by Age

• 19% are under age 18
• 8.5% are ages 18 to 24
• 33.7% are ages 25 to 49
• 25.6% are ages 50 to 64
• 13.2% are 65 years and over

The median age is 39.3 years. Dearborn has an aging population like much of the Midwest, but still retains a significant number of younger residents under 45.

Household and Family Size

• There are 38,778 total households in Dearborn
• 62% are family households
• 34% are non-family households
• Average household size is 2.7 people
• Average family size is 3.28 people

Dearborn has a mix of family households, often with children, and single-person non-family households typical of an older suburban area. Household sizes reflect national trends of declining family sizes.

Household Income Breakdown

• Median household income is $47,384
• Per capita income is $25,564
• 16.5% of households have annual income below $25k
• 29.2% have income between $25k-$50k
• 19.6% have income between $50k-$75k
• 21.5% have income between $75k-$150k
• 13.2% have income above $150k

Dearborn has a wide range of household incomes, with a middle class median income but also significant lower-income and high-income households. Income inequality is moderate for the region.

Racial and Ethnic Composition

Dearborn has a highly diverse population including many ethnic groups:

White and European Ancestry

• 89% are white
• Major European ancestries:
  • German (30%)
  • Polish (18%)
  • Irish (12%)
  • Italian (10%)

Whites make up the overall majority, but Dearborn has very strong European ethnic ties with significant German, Polish, and other ancestries.

Arab and Middle Eastern Ancestry

• 29% claim Arab ancestry
• Most have family ties to Lebanon

Dearborn has the highest percentage of Arab-Americans in the U.S., comprising nearly 30% of the population. Most trace their roots to Lebanon.

Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity

• 7% identify as Hispanic/Latino ethnicity
• Largest Hispanic/Latino groups:
  • Mexican (4%)
  • Puerto Rican (1%)
  • Spanish (1%)

Hispanics and Latinos make up a smaller but still significant segment of Dearborn’s population. The largest Hispanic subgroup is those of Mexican descent.

Asian American Population

• 2% identify as Asian
• Largest Asian ethnic groups:
  • Indian (0.8%)
  • Chinese (0.4%)
  • Filipino (0.2%)

Though small in total numbers, Dearborn is home to members of diverse Asian ethnic populations including those with Indian, Chinese, Filipino and other Asian ancestries.

Black/African American Population

• 4% identify as black or African American
• 9% identify as a combination of two or more races

A smaller but still considerable minority percentage identify as black or African American, either alone or in combination with other races and ethnicities.

Foreign-Born Population and Immigration

Immigration plays a major role in Dearborn’s demographic makeup:

• 27% of residents are foreign-born
• Leading countries of origin:
  • Lebanon (14%)
  • Iraq (5%)
  • Mexico (2%)
  • Yemen (2%)
  • India (1%)

Over one-quarter of Dearborn’s population is foreign-born with significant immigrant communities from the Middle East (Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen) as well as Mexico and India.

Year of Immigration for Foreign-Born Residents

Year Period	Number	Percent
2015 or later	2,809	3.3%
2010 to 2014	3,491	4.1%
2000 to 2009	16,543	19.3%
1990 to 1999	16,188	18.9%
Before 1990	45,321	53.0%

• A small percentage immigrated since 2010
• 20% came between 1990-2009
• Over half immigrated before 1990

Dearborn has a well-established immigrant population with over half arriving before 1990, though newer waves continue to settle in the city since then.

Languages Spoken at Home

Reflecting its diversity, many languages are spoken in Dearborn homes:

• 64% speak English only
• 36% speak a language other than English at home

Over one-third speak a foreign language at home, especially Arabic but also European languages.

Leading Non-English Languages Spoken at Home

• Arabic – 25%
• Spanish – 3%
• Italian – 2%
• Polish – 2%
• Albanian – 1%

After English, Arabic is by far the most common language spoken at home. Other European languages like Italian and Polish retain a strong presence in the community.

Educational Attainment

• 89% have high school diploma or higher
• 31% have bachelor’s degree or higher

Dearborn matches national averages for completion of high school education, though trails in 4-year college completion rates. However, many residents have highly specialized trade skills.

Population 25+ by Educational Attainment

• 10% – Less than high school
• 30% – High school graduate
• 29% – Some college or Associate degree
• 17% – Bachelor’s degree
• 14% – Graduate or professional degree

About 60% have education beyond high school, though the majority have less than a 4-year degree. Graduate degree holders reflect the region’s concentration of engineering and advanced manufacturing talent.

Religion

Dearborn has a diverse religious makeup:

• 63% identify as Christian
  • 25% Catholic
  • 18% Protestant/other Christian
• 24% identify as Muslim
• 1% identify as Hindu
• 7% identify as other faiths
• 5% do not specify a religion

While Christians make up the overall majority, Dearborn has very large Muslim and Catholic communities. A diversity of faith groups contribute to civic life.

Transportation and Commuter Trends

As a primarily car dependent suburban community, commuter trends show:

• 83% drive alone to work
• 9% carpool
• 1% use public transportation
• 2% walk or bike
• 4% work from home

Given limited public transportation options, over 90% either drive alone or carpool to work. Pre-COVID estimates showed low levels of walking, biking and transit use along with fewer residents working remotely.

Commute Times

• Average commute time is 25 minutes
• 33% commute less than 20 minutes
• 31% commute 20 to 29 minutes
• 25% commute 30 minutes or longer

Typical suburban commute times and patterns prevail in Dearborn, though congestion contributes to a portion facing longer daily travel times over 30 minutes each way.

So in summary, Dearborn has a large and ethnically diverse population with significant European, Middle Eastern, and Hispanic communities both native-born and immigrant. Falling educational and income levels point to issues of inequality amidst the diversity. Transportation options remain rather limited. But the overall richness of cultures makes Dearborn a unique place to call home in metro Detroit.