Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 14 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Sterling Heights
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $33k less ($210,800 vs $243,400)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Households earn $7,166 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $7,166/yr
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Broken Arrow
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$7,166
$82,547 vs $75,381/yr
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$33k less
$210,800 vs $243,400
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 14 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 14 and Sterling Heights wins 9. 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 Broken Arrow to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $243,400 median home), income ($82,547 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Sterling Heights, MI are about 817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.