St. Petersburg 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)
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
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. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
133,473
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Petersburg
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Median Age
St. Petersburg
43.1
Sterling Heights
41.5
Sterling Heights +
Foreign Born
St. Petersburg
10.1%
Sterling Heights
27.4%
Sterling Heights +
White
St. Petersburg
66.2%
Sterling Heights
78.9%
Sterling Heights +
Black
St. Petersburg
19.4%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
6.6%
Asian
St. Petersburg
3.1%
Sterling Heights
9.0%
Sterling Heights +
Hispanic
St. Petersburg
9.3%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
2.4%
Spanish at Home
St. Petersburg
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | 133,473 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 41.5 | Sterling Heights + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 27.4% | Sterling Heights + |
| White | 66.2% | 78.9% | Sterling Heights + |
| Black | 19.4% | 6.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 9.0% | Sterling Heights + |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 2.4% | St. Petersburg + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Petersburg
$73,118
Sterling Heights
$78,429
Sterling Heights +
Per Capita Income
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
$37,315
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Petersburg
$65,328
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
$58,052
Unemployment Rate
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
6.2%
Poverty Rate
St. Petersburg
11.7%
Sterling Heights
10.6%
Sterling Heights +
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Petersburg
41.3%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
31.2%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $73,118 | $78,429 | Sterling Heights + |
| Per Capita Income | $49,823 | $37,315 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $58,052 | St. Petersburg + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 6.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7% | 10.6% | Sterling Heights + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.3% | 31.2% | St. Petersburg + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Petersburg
$331,500
Sterling Heights
$309,742
Sterling Heights +
Homeownership Rate
St. Petersburg
63.0%
Sterling Heights
76.4%
Sterling Heights +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $331,500 | $309,742 | Sterling Heights + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 76.4% | Sterling Heights + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
471
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
1590
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 471 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1590 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
32.7%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
36.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.2%
Sterling Heights
11.5%
Sterling Heights +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
17.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
11.1%
Sterling Heights
6.7%
Sterling Heights +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
16.6%
Sterling Heights
16.4%
Sterling Heights +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.4%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
15.3%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 36.0% | St. Petersburg + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 11.5% | Sterling Heights + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 17.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 6.7% | Sterling Heights + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.6% | 16.4% | Sterling Heights + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 15.3% | St. Petersburg + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | 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. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
10.7 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Petersburg
75.0%
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
55.0%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | St. Petersburg + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
St. Petersburg +
Sterling Heights
27.5 min
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Sterling Heights, MI | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.8 min | 27.5 min | St. Petersburg + |
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, St. Petersburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 471 in Sterling Heights. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Petersburg scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.7%.
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