Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sterling Heights, MI
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 12 of 23 categories
Sterling Heights
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Waco
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Households earn $27,960 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Waco
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($174,100 vs $243,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $27,960/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$27,960
$75,381 vs $47,421/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
46% lower
229.2 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$69k less
$174,100 vs $243,400
Waco
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,400 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,215 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,381 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Utica Community Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.6°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 133,744 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.0% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sterling Heights's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 12 of 23 categories. Sterling Heights wins 12 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,400 vs $174,100 median home), income ($75,381 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sterling Heights, MI and Waco, TX are about 1,088 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.