salarySterling Heights is the 4th-largest city in Michigan that we track, with 133,573 residents. Rent is lower than in 64% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income. Most homes (75.8%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $55,240 a year. That is $27 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Michigan cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Michigan. It is number 103 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Sterling Heights?
Share of households by yearly income. 26.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Sterling Heights
| Size | Sterling Heights | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,343 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,207 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,522 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,999 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,827 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Sterling Heights overall?
Everyday prices in Michigan overall are 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.2, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Sterling Heights, so the Michigan figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Sterling Heights
Life in Sterling Heights
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sterling Heights?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $522 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $274,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $27,430 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Sterling Heights, MI?
Renting in Sterling Heights costs a median of about $1,381 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.
How much do I need to make to live in Sterling Heights?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $55,240 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Sterling Heights cheap or expensive?
Sterling Heights is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.2% of the typical household income of $86,182. It ranks 103rd cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Sterling Heights?
The median homeowner in Sterling Heights pays $3,628 a year in property taxes, about 1.32% of the median home value.
Is Sterling Heights more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Michigan are 4% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Sterling Heights?
The median home value in Sterling Heights is $274,300, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.
133,573 people live in Sterling Heights. Numbers are typical (middle) values.