Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
14
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $21,076/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
57% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $21,076 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,402)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$21,076
$75,381 vs $54,305/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
57% lower
229.2 vs 534.8 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 9 and Sterling Heights wins 14. 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 Haven to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $243,400 median home), income ($54,305 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Sterling Heights, MI are about 526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.