Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Sterling Heights
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
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.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
32% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 32°F
Households earn $10,446 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $47k less ($243,400 vs $290,800)
Rent averages $211/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,426)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $10,446/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than New Braunfels
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$10,446
$85,827 vs $75,381/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
32% lower
156.4 vs 229.2 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$47k less
$243,400 vs $290,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories. New Braunfels wins 13 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 New Braunfels to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $243,400 median home), income ($85,827 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.