Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 13 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Sterling Heights
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
43% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $4,225/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Rent averages $355/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,570)
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $23k less ($243,400 vs $266,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Households earn $4,225 more per year on average
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
43% lower
131.1 vs 229.2 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$4,225
$75,381 vs $71,156/yr
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$23k less
$243,400 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 13 of 23 categories. Brandon 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 Brandon to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $243,400 median home), income ($71,156 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,013 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.