Living in Dearborn
Dearborn is the Wayne County city next door to Detroit that is home to Ford Motor Company, The Henry Ford and two downtowns, east and west. This guide covers what homes are listed for, how your tax bill depends on the street you pick, what's nearby and what to check before you buy.
Where is Dearborn?
Dearborn sits just west of Detroit in Wayne County, about 10 miles from downtown. Detroit wraps around its north and east sides, Dearborn Heights is to the west, and Allen Park and Melvindale are to the south. I-94, the Southfield Freeway and Michigan Avenue all run through the city, so downtown Detroit, Detroit Metro Airport and Ann Arbor are all an easy drive.
The city has two downtowns, East Dearborn and West Dearborn, both along Michigan Avenue, and a busy shopping corridor on Warren Avenue in the northeast part of town. Dearborn has several ZIP codes, including 48120, 48124, 48126 and 48128, so check the one on the listing.
What do homes in Dearborn cost?
On October 27, 2026 there were 147 homes for sale in Dearborn on the MLS, 123 of them single-family houses with a median asking price of $299,900. Asking prices ran from $119,900 to $994,800.
Dearborn's housing is older than most of the suburbs around it. SEMCOG's 2024 building data counts 28,879 single-family homes with an average year built of 1946 and an average size of 1,464 square feet. That means most homes are well past 70 years old, and updates vary a lot from house to house.
Asking prices are a starting point, not a value. A home that has had a Price Improvement may still be above what the street supports. For a real number on a specific home, ask for a list of recorded sales on the block.
What are property taxes in Dearborn?
Dearborn taxes a primary residence at 50.8704 to 52.9112 mills, depending on the school district (2025 Michigan Treasury millage). Taxable value after a sale is roughly half the price, so a $350,000 home carries a bill of about $8,902 to $9,259 a year. The seller's bill on the listing is usually lower because their value was capped.
Dearborn is split between two school tax jurisdictions: the Dearborn City School District at 50.8704 mills and the Westwood Community School District at 52.9112. On a $350,000 home the gap is about $357 a year, decided only by which side of the boundary the house is on. The full breakdown is on the Dearborn property tax page, and you can run your exact number with the uncapping calculator.
What is near Dearborn: restaurants, shops and parks?
Warren Avenue in east Dearborn is one of the best food streets in Michigan. Al Ameer serves Lebanese food on Warren and won a James Beard America's Classics award in 2016. Al Ameer and Cedarland Bakery both unveiled renovated storefronts in May 2026 through the city's Warren Avenue facade program. Shatila Bakery, also on Warren, is the place for baklava, pastries, cakes and ice cream.
The Henry Ford is Dearborn's best-known attraction: the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, which runs seasonal events like Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village every fall. The Arab American National Museum is on Michigan Avenue in east Dearborn.
Every August the city's Dearborn Homecoming festival fills Ford Field Park with music, food and fireworks over three days. Hours and events change, so check before you go.
What should you check before buying in Dearborn?
Confirm the school tax jurisdiction for the exact address, since it changes the rate. Because so many homes are 70 years old or more, budget for a sewer scope and a close look at the roof, furnace and electrical panel. Basement water is worth asking about directly; ask the seller what they have seen after heavy rain and look for signs of past water during the inspection.
Dearborn water tested at 6 parts per billion for lead at the 90th percentile in the latest state monitoring, below Michigan's 12 ppb action level. The average radon test across Dearborn's ZIP codes was 2.2 pCi/L, with 15% of tests above the EPA's 4 pCi/L action level. Those are citywide and ZIP-level screens; test the home itself and check the service line material during inspection.
Working with Eddie in Dearborn
Eddie Sabbagh is a Realtor with Match Realty in Detroit. Before you make an offer in Dearborn, he'll show you your tax bill for the exact school tax jurisdiction, your monthly payment and recorded sales on the street, so you know the real cost before you commit.
Common questions
What is the median asking price for a home in Dearborn?
$299,900 median asking price across 123 single-family homes for sale on October 27, 2026, from the Realcomp MLS.
What is the property tax rate in Dearborn, MI?
Between 50.8704 and 52.9112 mills for a primary residence in 2025, depending on whether the home is in the Dearborn City School District or the Westwood Community School District tax jurisdiction.
How old are most homes in Dearborn?
SEMCOG's 2024 building data puts the average single-family home in Dearborn at 1946, with an average size of 1,464 square feet.
What ZIP codes does Dearborn use?
Dearborn homes use 48120, 48124, 48126 and 48128. Check the listing for the exact one.