Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
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.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($164,400 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($968 vs $1,215)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $14,453/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
37% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $14,453 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$79k less
$164,400 vs $243,400
Laredo
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$14,453
$75,381 vs $60,928/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
37% lower
229.2 vs 365.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Laredo wins 11 and Sterling Heights wins 11. 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 Laredo to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $243,400 median home), income ($60,928 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.