Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sterling Heights, MI
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 15 of 23 categories
Sterling Heights
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Syracuse
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Households earn $31,797 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($117,900 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $283/mo less ($932 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $31,797/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$31,797
$75,381 vs $43,584/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
70% lower
229.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$126k less
$117,900 vs $243,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,400 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,215 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,381 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.8% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Utica Community Schools | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.6°F | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.5" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.2" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 133,744 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.0% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sterling Heights's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 15 of 23 categories. Sterling Heights wins 15 and Syracuse wins 8. 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 Sterling Heights to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,400 vs $117,900 median home), income ($75,381 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sterling Heights, MI and Syracuse, NY are about 350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.