Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 17 of 23 categories
Downey
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Sterling Heights
Michigan
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Households earn $8,855 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $436k less ($243,400 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,814)
50% less violent crime than Downey
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $8,855/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$8,855
$84,236 vs $75,381/yr
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
50% lower
229.2 vs 460.5 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$436k less
$243,400 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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 17 of 23 categories. Downey wins 6 and Sterling Heights wins 17. 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 Downey to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $243,400 median home), income ($84,236 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,980 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.