Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 17 of 23 categories
Everett
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
110,847
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.
Everett, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sterling Heights
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($243,400 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,611)
14% less violent crime than Everett
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Everett
Median Income
$2,425
$77,806 vs $75,381/yr
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
14% lower
229.2 vs 265.1 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$228k less
$243,400 vs $471,200
Sterling Heights
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 74.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 17 of 23 categories. Everett 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 Everett to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $243,400 median home), income ($77,806 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.