St. Louis 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. Louis, MO
Missouri · Population: 293,109
- Median HH Income$55,279
- Median Home Price$185,100
- Unemployment5.1%
- Bachelor's+40.2%
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. Louis
293,109
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
133,473
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Louis
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Median Age
St. Louis
36.6
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
41.5
Foreign Born
St. Louis
6.6%
Sterling Heights
27.4%
Sterling Heights +
White
St. Louis
45.7%
Sterling Heights
78.9%
Sterling Heights +
Black
St. Louis
43.1%
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
6.6%
Asian
St. Louis
3.4%
Sterling Heights
9.0%
Sterling Heights +
Hispanic
St. Louis
5.1%
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
2.4%
Spanish at Home
St. Louis
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 293,109 | 133,473 | St. Louis + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 41.5 | St. Louis + |
| Foreign Born | 6.6% | 27.4% | Sterling Heights + |
| White | 45.7% | 78.9% | Sterling Heights + |
| Black | 43.1% | 6.6% | St. Louis + |
| Asian | 3.4% | 9.0% | Sterling Heights + |
| Hispanic | 5.1% | 2.4% | St. Louis + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Louis
$55,279
Sterling Heights
$78,429
Sterling Heights +
Per Capita Income
St. Louis
$38,947
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
$37,315
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Louis
$58,527
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
$58,052
Unemployment Rate
St. Louis
5.1%
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
6.2%
Poverty Rate
St. Louis
19.8%
Sterling Heights
10.6%
Sterling Heights +
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Louis
40.2%
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
31.2%
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $55,279 | $78,429 | Sterling Heights + |
| Per Capita Income | $38,947 | $37,315 | St. Louis + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $58,527 | $58,052 | St. Louis + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 6.2% | St. Louis + |
| Poverty Rate | 19.8% | 10.6% | Sterling Heights + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 40.2% | 31.2% | St. Louis + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Louis
$185,100
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
$309,742
Homeownership Rate
St. Louis
45.4%
Sterling Heights
76.4%
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $185,100 | $309,742 | St. Louis + |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 76.4% | Sterling Heights + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Louis
501
Sterling Heights
471
Sterling Heights +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Louis
2418
Sterling Heights
1590
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Louis, 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. Louis
36.8%
Sterling Heights
36.0%
Sterling Heights +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
13.2%
Sterling Heights
11.5%
Sterling Heights +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Louis
18.8%
Sterling Heights
17.2%
Sterling Heights +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
9.4%
Sterling Heights
6.7%
Sterling Heights +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
17.9%
Sterling Heights
16.4%
Sterling Heights +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
16.8%
Sterling Heights
15.3%
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 36.8% | 36.0% | Sterling Heights + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.2% | 11.5% | Sterling Heights + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 18.8% | 17.2% | Sterling Heights + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.4% | 6.7% | Sterling Heights + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 17.9% | 16.4% | Sterling Heights + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.8% | 15.3% | Sterling Heights + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Louis
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Louis
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
| Metric | St. Louis, 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. Louis
9.3 µg/m³
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
10.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Louis
55.0%
Sterling Heights
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | St. Louis + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Louis
24.0 min
St. Louis +
Sterling Heights
27.5 min
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 24.0 min | 27.5 min | St. Louis + |
Which City is Right for You?
Sterling Heights leads in median household income at $78,429, while st. Louis offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $185,100. On public safety, Sterling Heights is safer with a violent crime rate of 471 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Louis. St. Louis has a lower unemployment rate at 5.1%, and St. Louis has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sterling Heights scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.0%.
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