Residential comparison · 13 facts
Sterling Heights, MI vs Troy, MI
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Sterling Heights needs about $88,000 in Troy to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Troy, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,000 in Sterling Heights.
A few differences
- Troy is higher on median household income ($120,045 vs $79,909).
- Sterling Heights is lower on cost of living index (90 vs 103).
- Sterling Heights is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,376/mo vs $1,685/mo).
Sterling Heights vs Troy · facet by facet
| Facet | Sterling Heights, MI | Troy, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $274,300 | $420,300 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,376/mo | $1,685/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.35% | 1.35% |
| State & local income tax | 5.25% | 5.25% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 90 | 103 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $79,909 | $120,045 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.3/10 | 5.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 175 days | 175 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Sterling Heights, MI · Troy, MI
Questions & answers
- Is Sterling Heights cheaper than Troy?
- Sterling Heights has the lower day-to-day cost index (90 vs 103 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Troy equals $85,000 in Sterling Heights?
- A household earning $85,000 in Sterling Heights needs about $88,000 in Troy to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Troy lifestyle costs about $82,000 in Sterling Heights.