St. Charles MO 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)
St. Charles, MO
Missouri · Population: 71,542
- Median HH Income$55,578
- Median Home Price$144,200
- Unemployment4.7%
- Bachelor's+22.7%
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
St. Charles
71,542
Sterling Heights
133,473
Sterling Heights +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Charles
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Median Age
St. Charles
37.9
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
41.5
Foreign Born
St. Charles
4.2%
Sterling Heights
27.4%
Sterling Heights +
White
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
78.9%
Black
St. Charles
6.7%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
6.6%
Asian
St. Charles
1.4%
Sterling Heights
9.0%
Sterling Heights +
Hispanic
St. Charles
7.7%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
2.4%
Spanish at Home
St. Charles
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,542 | 133,473 | Sterling Heights + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 41.5 | St. Charles + |
| Foreign Born | 4.2% | 27.4% | Sterling Heights + |
| White | 80.4% | 78.9% | St. Charles + |
| Black | 6.7% | 6.6% | St. Charles + |
| Asian | 1.4% | 9.0% | Sterling Heights + |
| Hispanic | 7.7% | 2.4% | St. Charles + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Charles
$55,578
Sterling Heights
$78,429
Sterling Heights +
Per Capita Income
St. Charles
$31,499
Sterling Heights
$37,315
Sterling Heights +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Charles
$58,527
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
$58,052
Unemployment Rate
St. Charles
4.7%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
6.2%
Poverty Rate
St. Charles
18.7%
Sterling Heights
10.6%
Sterling Heights +
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Charles
22.7%
Sterling Heights
31.2%
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $55,578 | $78,429 | Sterling Heights + |
| Per Capita Income | $31,499 | $37,315 | Sterling Heights + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $58,527 | $58,052 | St. Charles + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 6.2% | St. Charles + |
| Poverty Rate | 18.7% | 10.6% | Sterling Heights + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 22.7% | 31.2% | Sterling Heights + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Charles
$144,200
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
$309,742
Homeownership Rate
St. Charles
61.4%
Sterling Heights
76.4%
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $144,200 | $309,742 | St. Charles + |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.4% | 76.4% | Sterling Heights + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Charles
501
Sterling Heights
471
Sterling Heights +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Charles
2418
Sterling Heights
1590
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 501 | 471 | Sterling Heights + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2418 | 1590 | Sterling Heights + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
35.9%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
36.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
10.4%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
11.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Charles
16.0%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
17.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
7.1%
Sterling Heights
6.7%
Sterling Heights +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
18.4%
Sterling Heights
16.4%
Sterling Heights +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
12.5%
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
15.3%
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 35.9% | 36.0% | St. Charles + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 11.5% | St. Charles + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.0% | 17.2% | St. Charles + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 7.1% | 6.7% | Sterling Heights + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 18.4% | 16.4% | Sterling Heights + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.5% | 15.3% | St. Charles + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Charles
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Charles
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
St. Charles
9.3 µg/m³
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
10.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Charles
55.0%
Sterling Heights
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | St. Charles + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +
Sterling Heights
27.5 min
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 18.3 min | 27.5 min | St. Charles + |
Which City is Right for You?
Sterling Heights leads in median household income at $78,429, while st. Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $144,200. On public safety, Sterling Heights is safer with a violent crime rate of 471 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Charles. St. Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and St. Charles has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Charles scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.9%.
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