Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 14 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($170,700 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $220/mo less ($995 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $13,003/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Des Moines
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,003 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$73k less
$170,700 vs $243,400
Des Moines
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$13,003
$75,381 vs $62,378/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
67% lower
229.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 31.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 14 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Sterling Heights wins 14. 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 Des Moines to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $243,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Sterling Heights, MI are about 547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.