Economy, jobs and prices in Sterling Heights, Michigan: official figures
The median household income in Sterling Heights was $79,909 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 403rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Michigan median $72,875.
What is the per capita income in Sterling Heights?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Sterling Heights averaged $38,084 a year in 2020-2024, 339th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Michigan: $40,735).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Sterling Heights?
Sterling Heights' Gini index of household income inequality was 0.420 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 200th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
6.1% of the civilian labor force in Sterling Heights was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (4,119 people), 257th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Michigan's 5.7%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Sterling Heights have jobs?
63,874 residents of Sterling Heights held civilian jobs, 57.5% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 55 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Sterling Heights?
The largest industry group for working residents of Sterling Heights was manufacturing (21.5% of employed residents), followed by education, health care and social assistance (19.7%) and retail trade (11.8%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Sterling Heights work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 21.5% of working residents of Sterling Heights, 16th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 9.5% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Commuters in Sterling Heights took 24.7 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 402nd longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 5.2% travelled an hour or more and 20.6% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Sterling Heights get to work?
15.7% of workers living in Sterling Heights worked from home in 2020-2024, 328th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 72.6% drove to work alone, 9.5% carpooled, 0.5% used public transport and 0.6% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Sterling Heights was $1,292 a month in 2020-2024, 246th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Michigan: $1,129).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Sterling Heights?
Owner-occupied homes in Sterling Heights had a median value of $274,300 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 231st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Michigan: $231,600).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Sterling Heights?
The median home value in Sterling Heights was 3.4 times the median household income, 176th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Sterling Heights have no internet?
4.8% of households in Sterling Heights (2,468) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 411th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.0% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Sterling Heights compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 421 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 418 | Brockton | $80,115 |
| 419 | Murfreesboro | $80,108 |
| 420 | Montebello | $79,971 |
| 421 | Sterling Heights | $79,909 |
| 422 | Stockton | $79,907 |
| 423 | Modesto | $79,891 |
| 424 | Tempe | $79,663 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 485 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 482 | Odessa | $38,171 |
| 483 | Denton | $38,167 |
| 484 | Anaheim | $38,100 |
| 485 | Sterling Heights | $38,084 |
| 486 | Salem | $38,066 |
| 487 | South Fulton | $38,061 |
| 488 | Tulsa | $38,030 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 624 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 621 | Lewisville | 0.420 |
| 622 | Gilroy | 0.420 |
| 623 | Jeffersonville | 0.420 |
| 624 | Sterling Heights | 0.420 |
| 625 | Woodland | 0.420 |
| 626 | Frisco | 0.420 |
| 627 | Hayward | 0.420 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 257 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 254 | Cranston | 6.1% |
| 255 | Palm Bay | 6.1% |
| 256 | Edinburg | 6.1% |
| 257 | Sterling Heights | 6.1% |
| 258 | Pittsburgh | 6.1% |
| 259 | Monterey Park | 6.1% |
| 260 | St. Cloud | 6.0% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 683 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 680 | Carson | 61.2% |
| 681 | Watsonville | 61.2% |
| 682 | Battle Creek | 61.2% |
| 683 | Sterling Heights | 61.2% |
| 684 | El Cajon | 61.1% |
| 685 | Deerfield Beach | 61.1% |
| 686 | Hammond | 61.1% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 402 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 399 | Nashville | 24.7 |
| 400 | Anderson | 24.7 |
| 401 | West Sacramento | 24.7 |
| 402 | Sterling Heights | 24.7 |
| 403 | New Bedford | 24.7 |
| 404 | Mesa | 24.7 |
| 405 | Farmington Hills | 24.7 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 328 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 325 | Salem | 15.8% |
| 326 | San Leandro | 15.8% |
| 327 | Tacoma | 15.7% |
| 328 | Sterling Heights | 15.7% |
| 329 | New Braunfels | 15.6% |
| 330 | Columbus | 15.6% |
| 331 | Jacksonville | 15.5% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 607 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | Waukesha | 0.5% |
| 605 | Colorado Springs | 0.5% |
| 606 | Fayetteville | 0.5% |
| 607 | Sterling Heights | 0.5% |
| 608 | Wylie | 0.5% |
| 609 | Pearland | 0.5% |
| 610 | Sugar Land | 0.5% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 16 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Oshkosh | 21.7% |
| 14 | Brooklyn Park | 21.7% |
| 15 | Racine | 21.6% |
| 16 | Sterling Heights | 21.5% |
| 17 | Grand Island | 21.4% |
| 18 | St. Joseph | 21.3% |
| 19 | Cupertino | 21.2% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 686 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 683 | Pleasanton | 19.7% |
| 684 | Euless | 19.7% |
| 685 | Jupiter | 19.7% |
| 686 | Sterling Heights | 19.7% |
| 687 | Draper | 19.7% |
| 688 | Henderson | 19.6% |
| 689 | Lawrence | 19.6% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 578 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 575 | Meriden | $1,294 |
| 576 | Tallahassee | $1,293 |
| 577 | Corpus Christi | $1,292 |
| 578 | Sterling Heights | $1,292 |
| 579 | Florissant | $1,288 |
| 580 | St. Paul | $1,281 |
| 581 | Blue Springs | $1,277 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 593 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 590 | Bridgeport | $274,900 |
| 591 | Aurora | $274,800 |
| 592 | Chicopee | $274,500 |
| 593 | Sterling Heights | $274,300 |
| 594 | Elgin | $273,000 |
| 595 | Lauderhill | $272,900 |
| 596 | Cleveland | $272,200 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 645 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 642 | Lancaster | 3.4x |
| 643 | Carmel | 3.4x |
| 644 | Roanoke | 3.4x |
| 645 | Sterling Heights | 3.4x |
| 646 | Tulsa | 3.4x |
| 647 | Des Plaines | 3.4x |
| 648 | Grand Island | 3.4x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 68 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Fishers | 76.2% |
| 66 | Eden Prairie | 76.1% |
| 67 | Peoria | 76.0% |
| 68 | Sterling Heights | 75.8% |
| 69 | Wellington | 75.8% |
| 70 | Barnstable Town | 75.7% |
| 71 | Port Orange | 75.6% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 301 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 298 | Lacey | 93.9% |
| 299 | Pasadena | 93.9% |
| 300 | Petaluma | 93.9% |
| 301 | Sterling Heights | 93.9% |
| 302 | Portland | 93.9% |
| 303 | Redding | 93.9% |
| 304 | Santa Barbara | 93.9% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Sterling Heights ranks 411 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 408 | Everett | 4.8% |
| 409 | Salem | 4.8% |
| 410 | Hawthorne | 4.8% |
| 411 | Sterling Heights | 4.8% |
| 412 | Vancouver | 4.8% |
| 413 | Idaho Falls | 4.8% |
| 414 | St. Petersburg | 4.8% |
More on Sterling Heights: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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