Darien, IL vs Sterling Heights, MI
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Darien
75.1
#500 nationally
Sterling Heights
72.7
#851 nationally
Darien leads in crime level (1.1 vs 6.3). Darien leads in median household income ($110,546 vs $75,381). Sterling Heights leads in cost of living index (101 vs 122).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Darien, IL | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.1 (#500) | 72.7 (#851) |
| Population | 21,698 | 133,306 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $463,450 | $313,695 |
| Median Household Income | $110,546 | $75,381 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 26 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 1.1 | 6.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 101 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | R+13.7 |
C
75.1 Score
Darien, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$463,450
Population
21,698
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
35
Midwest
View Darien, IL →
C-
72.7 Score
Sterling Heights, MI
Mid-size Michigan city with community character
Median Home
$313,695
Population
133,306
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
33
Midwest
View Sterling Heights, MI →
Try a different matchup
Swap Darien for:
Swap Sterling Heights for: