Madison Heights vs Sterling Heights
Madison Heights, Michigan versus Sterling Heights, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Madison Heights edges out Sterling Heights on overall objective livability (54 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Madison Heights | Sterling Heights |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $63k | $75k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $173k | $243k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.61% | 1.42% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.68% | 10.85% |
| Unemployment | 3.6% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.9 in | 34.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0 in | 32.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 244 days | 180 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 101 days | 100 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 44.2 | 44.1 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 69.3 | 44.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1478/100k | 1353/100k |
| Property Crime | 1920/100k | 1187/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 28,521 | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 41.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.32 | 0.34 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 80.9% | 79.9% |
| Black (%) | 7.3% | 5.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 1.8% | 2.0% |
| Asian (%) | 6.4% | 8.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 8.9/20 | 7.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 24 mi | 30 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.4% | 92.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 256.30 | 25.72 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Madison Heights or Sterling Heights more affordable?
- Sterling Heights has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Madison Heights's $46k and Sterling Heights's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Madison Heights versus $1k in Sterling Heights.
- Is Madison Heights or Sterling Heights safer?
- Sterling Heights has the lower violent crime rate. Madison Heights reports 1478/100k and Sterling Heights reports 1353/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Madison Heights or Sterling Heights?
- The median home value is $173k in Madison Heights and $243k in Sterling Heights, so homes are more affordable in Madison Heights.