Sterling Heights, MI — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 133,473 · Michigan · Updated May 2026
Population
133,473
Median Income
$78,429
Home Price
$309,742
Unemployment
6.2%
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Bachelor's+
31.2%
Full Demographics — Sterling Heights, MI
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 133,473 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 27.4% | 13.8% | |
| White | 78.9% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 6.6% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 9.0% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 2.4% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $78,429 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $37,315 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $58,052 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 10.6% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 31.2% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $309,742 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.4% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 471 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1590 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 36.0% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.5% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.2% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 6.7% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.4% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 15.3% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 10.7 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 27.5 min | 27.0 min |
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About Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights is a city in Michigan, United States. With a population of 133,473, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Sterling Heights shows stronger household income ($78,429 median HH income vs $74,580 median HH income US avg) and poverty rate (10.6% poverty rate vs 11.5% poverty rate US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 31.2% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.