Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 14 of 22 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ 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.
Providence, RI
Pros
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $14,016/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
17% less violent crime than Providence
Households earn $14,016 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $50k less ($243,400 vs $293,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$14,016
$75,381 vs $61,365/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
17% lower
229.2 vs 276.7 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$50k less
$243,400 vs $293,000
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 14 of 22 categories. Providence wins 8 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 Providence to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $243,400 median home), income ($61,365 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Sterling Heights, MI are about 596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.