Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sterling Heights, MI
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 categories
Sterling Heights
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
46% less violent crime than Yuma
Households earn $16,069 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($186,500 vs $243,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $16,069/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$16,069
$75,381 vs $59,312/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
46% lower
229.2 vs 423.6 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$57k less
$186,500 vs $243,400
Yuma
Summer Heat
24.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,400 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,215 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,381 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.8% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Utica Community Schools | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.6°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.5" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 133,744 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.0% ✓ Higher | 64.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sterling Heights's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 categories. Sterling Heights wins 14 and Yuma wins 9. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,400 vs $186,500 median home), income ($75,381 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sterling Heights, MI and Yuma, AZ are about 1,847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.