Lake Forest, 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.
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Sterling Heights
72.7
#851 nationally
Lake Forest leads in crime level (0.6 vs 6.3). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $75,381). Sterling Heights leads in walk score (33 vs 18).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lake Forest, IL | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.3 (#1557) | 72.7 (#851) |
| Population | 19,354 | 133,306 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,246,873 | $313,695 |
| Median Household Income | $202,153 | $75,381 |
| Average Commute | 34.5 min | 26 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 0.6 | 6.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 101 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+20.8 | R+13.7 |
D
66.3 Score
Lake Forest, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,246,873
Population
19,354
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
18
Midwest
View Lake Forest, 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 →
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