CityCompare

Port St. Lucie FL 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)

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

  • Median HH Income$78,137
  • Median Home Price$327,700
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+26.8%

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
Port St. Lucie
220,453
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
133,473
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Median Age
Port St. Lucie
43.7
Sterling Heights
41.5
Sterling Heights +
Foreign Born
Port St. Lucie
19.5%
Sterling Heights
27.4%
Sterling Heights +
White
Port St. Lucie
60.0%
Sterling Heights
78.9%
Sterling Heights +
Black
Port St. Lucie
19.2%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
6.6%
Asian
Port St. Lucie
2.2%
Sterling Heights
9.0%
Sterling Heights +
Hispanic
Port St. Lucie
23.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
2.4%
Spanish at Home
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Port St. Lucie
$78,137
Sterling Heights
$78,429
Sterling Heights +
Per Capita Income
Port St. Lucie
$36,352
Sterling Heights
$37,315
Sterling Heights +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Port St. Lucie
$65,328
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
$58,052
Unemployment Rate
Port St. Lucie
5.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
6.2%
Poverty Rate
Port St. Lucie
8.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
10.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Port St. Lucie
26.8%
Sterling Heights
31.2%
Sterling Heights +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Port St. Lucie
$327,700
Sterling Heights
$309,742
Sterling Heights +
Homeownership Rate
Port St. Lucie
83.2%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
76.4%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
324
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
471
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
1453
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
1590

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
30.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
36.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
13.1%
Sterling Heights
11.5%
Sterling Heights +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Port St. Lucie
16.6%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
17.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Sterling Heights
6.7%
Sterling Heights +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
12.9%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
15.3%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
7.2 µg/m³
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
10.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Port St. Lucie
75.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Sterling Heights
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Port St. Lucie
32.0 min
Sterling Heights
27.5 min
Sterling Heights +

Which City is Right for You?

Sterling Heights leads in median household income at $78,429, while sterling Heights offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $309,742. On public safety, Port St. Lucie is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 471 in Sterling Heights. Port St. Lucie has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and Port St. Lucie has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Port St. Lucie scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.5%.

Compare More Cities

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About Port St. Lucie & Sterling Heights

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