Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Pearland leads 13 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
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.
Pearland, TX
Pros
58% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Households earn $35,742 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $68k less ($243,400 vs $311,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $35,742/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Median Income
$35,742
$111,123 vs $75,381/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
58% lower
95.9 vs 229.2 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$68k less
$243,400 vs $311,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 76.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 13 of 23 categories. Pearland 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 Pearland to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $243,400 median home), income ($111,123 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.