Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 12 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Sterling Heights
Michigan
12
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.
Rochester, MN
Pros
33% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,592 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $25k less ($243,400 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $8,592/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$8,592
$83,973 vs $75,381/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
33% lower
154.0 vs 229.2 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$25k less
$243,400 vs $268,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 31.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 12 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 10 and Sterling Heights wins 12. 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 Rochester to Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $243,400 median home), income ($83,973 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Sterling Heights, MI are about 485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.