Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Sterling Heights
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $2,655/yr
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,313)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Households earn $2,655 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°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
$2,655
$75,381 vs $72,726/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
50% lower
229.2 vs 458.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, 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 | $250,300 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 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 | 124⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth'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 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 8 and Sterling Heights wins 15. 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 Fort Worth to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $243,400 median home), income ($72,726 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,033 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.