Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 13 of 22 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($157,800 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $233/mo less ($982 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $25,648/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
84% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $25,648 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$86k less
$157,800 vs $243,400
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$25,648
$75,381 vs $49,733/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
84% lower
229.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ 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 | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 31.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 13 of 22 categories. Milwaukee wins 9 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 Milwaukee to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $243,400 median home), income ($49,733 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Sterling Heights, MI are about 252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.