Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 12 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
11% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Sterling Heights
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $3,460/yr
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $53k less ($243,400 vs $296,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Households earn $3,460 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Violent Crime
11% lower
204.2 vs 229.2 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$3,460
$75,381 vs $71,921/yr
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$53k less
$243,400 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 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 12 of 23 categories. Denton wins 11 and Sterling Heights wins 12. 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 Denton to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $243,400 median home), income ($71,921 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.