Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 19 of 23 categories
Compton
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Sterling Heights
Michigan
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Sterling Heights
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($243,400 vs $489,400)
82% less violent crime than Compton
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,464)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$5,653
$75,381 vs $69,728/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
82% lower
229.2 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$246k less
$243,400 vs $489,400
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Sterling Heights
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 19 of 23 categories. Compton wins 4 and Sterling Heights wins 19. 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 Compton to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $243,400 median home), income ($69,728 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.