

Detroit, MI vs Los Angeles, CA
Detroit, MI and Los Angeles, CA are even: each comes out ahead on 21 of 42 statistics where one end is better. Detroit, MI leads on Economics. Los Angeles, CA leads on Crime & Safety.
42 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 21
- Avg. percentile
- 38
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 21
- Avg. percentile
- 30
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Detroit, MI | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 650,499 25th of 477 | 3,863,148 2nd of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $39,938 426th of 434 | $81,939 151st of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $83,900 3rd of 434 | $921,200 392nd of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 32.7% 428th of 434 | 16.5% 271st of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 100.3 tied 256th of 460 | 113.6 tied 423rd of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $69,210 tied 175th of 460 | $77,270 tied 61st of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,074 109th of 434 | $1,933 352nd of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 1,649.1 393rd of 395 | 667.7 309th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyLos Angeles, CA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsDetroit, MI · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Detroit, MI | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $83,900 3rd of 434 | $921,200 392nd of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $39,938 426th of 434 | $81,939 151st of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,074 109th of 434 | $1,933 352nd of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 18.1% 400th of 434 | 38.5% 167th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 85.7% 397th of 434 | 92.6% 172nd of 434 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 94.7 tied 196th of 460 | 170.4 tied 414th of 460 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 100.3 tied 256th of 460 | 113.6 tied 423rd of 460 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 32.7% 428th of 434 | 16.5% 271st of 434 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 98.8 tied 277th of 460 | 106.6 tied 411th of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 25.7 384th of 395 | 5.8 263rd of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3,882.2 362nd of 395 | 2,235.5 246th of 395 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 24.8 283rd of 434 | 30.7 396th of 434 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 630.2 375th of 395 | 308.4 275th of 395 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $69,210 tied 175th of 460 | $77,270 tied 61st of 460 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 1,649.1 393rd of 395 | 667.7 309th of 395 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 107.0 tied 343rd of 460 | 158.6 tied 419th of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 971.1 389th of 395 | 518.8 348th of 395 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $52,080 tied 138th of 460 | $55,850 tied 87th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 102.6 tied 381st of 460 | 104.4 tied 413th of 460 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Detroit, MI or Los Angeles, CA?
- Detroit, MI and Los Angeles, CA are even: each comes out ahead on 21 of 42 statistics where one end is better. Detroit, MI leads on Economics. Los Angeles, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Detroit, MI or Los Angeles, CA?
- Detroit, MI has a population of 650,499 (25th of 477 US cities) and Los Angeles, CA has 3,863,148 (2nd of 477).
- How do Detroit, MI and Los Angeles, CA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Detroit, MI $39,938 (426th of 434), Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.
- How do Detroit, MI and Los Angeles, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Detroit, MI $83,900 (3rd of 434), Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434) among US cities. Detroit, MI ranks better.
- Where does Detroit, MI beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?
- Detroit, MI ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $83,900 vs $921,200; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,074 vs $1,933; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 94.7 vs 170.4.
- Where does Los Angeles, CA beat Detroit, MI most clearly?
- Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $81,939 vs $39,938; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 38.5% vs 18.1%; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 92.6% vs 85.7%.
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