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Sterling Heights, MI

Full City Profile · Michigan · Oakland County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
133,473 Population 3,662/sq mi density
$78,429 Median Income $37,315 per capita
$260,700 Home Value $301,210 Zillow
$1,267 Median Rent 32.2% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 253 sunny days/yr
125 Violent Crime/100K 855 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$78,429 median income, 3.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$260,700 home value, $1,267/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
125 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.5 / 5.0
31.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Sterling Heights, MI

At a Glance

Median Income
$78,429
4% above
$37,315 per capita
Home Value
$260,700
8% below
Zillow: $301,210
Median Rent
$1,267/mo
9% above
32.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
125/100K
67% below
855/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
31.2%
7% below
87.5% high school+
Unemployment
3.8%
6% above
8.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.1%
12% above
15.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
253 sunny days/yr

How Sterling Heights Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Sterling Heights's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
104%
Home Value
92%
Rent
109%
Poverty
66%
Bachelor's
93%
Unemployment
106%
Crime
33%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Sterling Heights a Good Place to Live?

B
3.4 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Sterling Heights residents earn a median household income of $78,429 , which is 4% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $37,315. The unemployment rate stands at 3.8% (6% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 43,047 business establishments, including 3,099 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Sterling Heights is $260,700 , 8% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $301,210. Median rent is $1,267/month, with 32.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1977.

Safety & Crime

Sterling Heights reports 125 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 67% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 855/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

31.2% of adults in Sterling Heights hold a bachelor's degree or higher (7% below the national average). 87.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Sterling Heights has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 253 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 38.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Data Overview

People

Population133,473
Median Age41.5 yrs
Density3,662/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.0%

Economy

A
Median Income$78,429
Per Capita$37,315
Unemployment3.8%
Poverty8.2%
County GDP$143,144M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,498

Housing

A+
Home Value$260,700
Rent$1,267
Ownership76.4%
Zillow$301,210
Housing Units52,791
Rent Burden32.2%

Crime

F
Violent125/100K
Property855/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault94/100K
Burglary69/100K

Health

Obesity36.1%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking15.8%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death6,101/100K

Climate

Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days253/yr
Rain38.1 in/yr
AQI38 (Good)
Elevation617 ft

Education

B
Bachelor's+31.2%
High School+87.5%
Graduate+11.0%
School Score6.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 44% / D 54%
Commute25 min
Broadband93.6%
Internet Speed154 Mbps
EV Stations13
Libraries40

Did You Know?

Sterling Heights was founded in 1968.
The median home in Sterling Heights was built in 1977.
The nearest airport is Oakland County International (21 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.467 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
13.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 154 Mbps.
There are 3,099 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 76 fatal vehicle crashes.