Sterling Heights, Michigan
Among the top 21% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 38% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 50% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 26% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 79% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 37% of US places
- top 13% for comfortable days
- top 14% for sales tax
- bottom 9% for sunny days
Sterling Heights is a city in Michigan with about 134,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and C for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include comfortable days, sales tax, and airport distance. It rates lower on violent crime and sunny days.
Official websitesterlingheights.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
very cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
64%32%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.7 in2.0 in
humid 91%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$75k67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$46kbetter than 56% of US places
Home Value$243k70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 26% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 34% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.42%better than 29% of US places
Income Tax4.30%better than 69% of US places
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden10.85%better than 37% of US places
Unemployment5.9%better than 32% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)25°F23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation34.5 in30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall32.2 inbetter than 30% of US places
Sunny Days180 daysbetter than 9% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 65% of US places
Comfortable Days100 daysbetter than 87% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk44.1better than 78% of US places
Air Quality48 AQIbetter than 36% of US places
School Quality44.5better than 24% of US places
Violent Crime1353/100kbetter than 21% of US places
Property Crime1187/100kbetter than 41% of US places
Community
Population133,74499th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.251st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3467th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9543rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)79.9%42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.8%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.0%40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)8.8%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.4%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 49% of US places
Walkability7.6/20better than 69% of US places
Airport Distance30 mibetter than 81% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.7%better than 75% of US places
Amenities Nearby25.72better than 25% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 33% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sterling Heights an affordable place to live?
- Sterling Heights is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $46k, better than 56% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Sterling Heights?
- The median home value in Sterling Heights is $243k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Sterling Heights?
- Median household income in Sterling Heights is $75k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Sterling Heights?
- Median gross rent in Sterling Heights is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Sterling Heights safe?
- Sterling Heights is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1353/100k (better than 21%). Property crime is 1187/100k.
- What is the weather like in Sterling Heights?
- Sterling Heights averages 73°F in July and 25°F in January, with 34.5 in of annual precipitation and about 180 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Sterling Heights?
- Public-school quality in Sterling Heights is below average, scoring better than 24% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Sterling Heights?
- The average one-way commute in Sterling Heights is 26 min.
Other places in Macomb County
Places near Sterling Heights
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)