Fort Collins CO vs Sterling Heights MI — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fort Collins, CO

Colorado · Population: 169,705

Median HH Income$83,598
Median Home Price$568,389
Unemployment5.2%
Bachelor's+59.9%

Sterling Heights, MI

Michigan · Population: 133,473

Median HH Income$78,429
Median Home Price$309,742
Unemployment6.2%
Bachelor's+31.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fort Collins

169,705

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

133,473

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fort Collins

N/A

Sterling Heights

N/A

Median Age

Fort Collins

30.6

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

41.5

Foreign Born

Fort Collins

6.6%

Sterling Heights

27.4%

Sterling Heights +

White

Fort Collins

81.7%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

78.9%

Black

Fort Collins

1.4%

Sterling Heights

6.6%

Sterling Heights +

Asian

Fort Collins

3.4%

Sterling Heights

9.0%

Sterling Heights +

Hispanic

Fort Collins

12.3%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

2.4%

Spanish at Home

Fort Collins

N/A

Sterling Heights

N/A

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Population	169,705	133,473	Fort Collins +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	30.6	41.5	Fort Collins +
Foreign Born	6.6%	27.4%	Sterling Heights +
White	81.7%	78.9%	Fort Collins +
Black	1.4%	6.6%	Sterling Heights +
Asian	3.4%	9.0%	Sterling Heights +
Hispanic	12.3%	2.4%	Fort Collins +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fort Collins

$83,598

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

$78,429

Per Capita Income

Fort Collins

$46,341

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

$37,315

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fort Collins

$76,653

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

$58,052

Unemployment Rate

Fort Collins

5.2%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

6.2%

Poverty Rate

Fort Collins

16.0%

Sterling Heights

10.6%

Sterling Heights +

Bachelor's Degree+

Fort Collins

59.9%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

31.2%

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Median HH Income	$83,598	$78,429	Fort Collins +
Per Capita Income	$46,341	$37,315	Fort Collins +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$76,653	$58,052	Fort Collins +
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	6.2%	Fort Collins +
Poverty Rate	16.0%	10.6%	Sterling Heights +
Bachelor's Degree+	59.9%	31.2%	Fort Collins +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fort Collins

$568,389

Sterling Heights

$309,742

Sterling Heights +

Homeownership Rate

Fort Collins

52.1%

Sterling Heights

76.4%

Sterling Heights +

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$568,389	$309,742	Sterling Heights +
Homeownership Rate	52.1%	76.4%	Sterling Heights +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Collins

512

Sterling Heights

471

Sterling Heights +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Collins

3234

Sterling Heights

1590

Sterling Heights +

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	512	471	Sterling Heights +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	3234	1590	Sterling Heights +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Collins

23.8%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

36.0%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Collins

6.2%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

11.5%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fort Collins

18.7%

Sterling Heights

17.2%

Sterling Heights +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fort Collins

9.4%

Sterling Heights

6.7%

Sterling Heights +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fort Collins

20.3%

Sterling Heights

16.4%

Sterling Heights +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fort Collins

9.9%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

15.3%

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	23.8%	36.0%	Fort Collins +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	6.2%	11.5%	Fort Collins +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	18.7%	17.2%	Sterling Heights +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.4%	6.7%	Sterling Heights +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	20.3%	16.4%	Sterling Heights +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	9.9%	15.3%	Fort Collins +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Collins

50.3°F

Sterling Heights

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Collins

16.1 in

Sterling Heights

N/A

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	50.3°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	16.1 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fort Collins

6.2 µg/m³

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

10.7 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fort Collins

75.0%

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

55.0%

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	6.2 µg/m³	10.7 µg/m³	Fort Collins +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Fort Collins +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fort Collins

21.8 min

Fort Collins +

Sterling Heights

27.5 min

Metric	Fort Collins, CO	Sterling Heights, MI	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	21.8 min	27.5 min	Fort Collins +

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Collins leads in median household income at $83,598, while sterling Heights offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $309,742. On public safety, Sterling Heights is safer with a violent crime rate of 471 per 100,000 residents, compared to 512 in Fort Collins. Fort Collins has a lower unemployment rate at 5.2%, and Fort Collins has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 6.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Collins scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.8%.

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About Fort Collins & Sterling Heights

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