Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Sterling Heights
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,633 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($243,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $491/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,706)
20% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $30,633/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$30,633
$106,014 vs $75,381/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
20% lower
229.2 vs 285.6 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$310k less
$243,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 10 and Sterling Heights wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $243,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.