Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Pueblo leads 12 of 23 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Sterling Heights
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Rent averages $275/mo less ($940 vs $1,215)
Homes cost $46k less ($197,700 vs $243,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $22,587/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
84% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $22,587 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Pueblo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$46k less
$197,700 vs $243,400
Pueblo
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$22,587
$75,381 vs $52,794/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
84% lower
229.2 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pueblo leads 12 of 23 categories. Pueblo wins 12 and Sterling Heights wins 11. 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 Pueblo to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $243,400 median home), income ($52,794 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.