Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Sterling Heights
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($159,600 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $295/mo less ($920 vs $1,215)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $21,242/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Households earn $21,242 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Edinburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$84k less
$159,600 vs $243,400
Edinburg
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$21,242
$75,381 vs $54,139/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
15% lower
229.2 vs 269.6 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 10 and Sterling Heights wins 13. 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 Edinburg to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $243,400 median home), income ($54,139 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.