Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Goodyear leads 12 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Sterling Heights
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
21% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Households earn $21,926 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($243,400 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $496/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,711)
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 107°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $21,926/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$21,926
$97,307 vs $75,381/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
21% lower
182.2 vs 229.2 per 100k
Goodyear
Summer Heat
25.2°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$153k less
$243,400 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 76.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 12 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 12 and Sterling Heights wins 10. 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 Goodyear to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $243,400 median home), income ($97,307 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.