Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sterling Heights, MI
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
Tyler
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
41% less violent crime than Tyler
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,325 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($205,200 vs $243,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,215)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $12,325/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$12,325
$75,381 vs $63,056/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
41% lower
229.2 vs 391.2 per 100k
Tyler
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$38k less
$205,200 vs $243,400
Tyler
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,400 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,215 | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,381 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.8% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Utica Community Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.6°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.5" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 133,744 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.0% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sterling Heights's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Sterling Heights wins 11 and Tyler 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 Sterling Heights to Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($75,381 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sterling Heights, MI and Tyler, TX are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.