Naperville, 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.
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Sterling Heights
72.7
#851 nationally
Naperville leads in median household income ($150,937 vs $75,381). Sterling Heights leads in crime level (6.3 vs 9.3). Naperville leads in walk score (46 vs 33).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.7 (#429) | 72.7 (#851) |
| Population | 149,424 | 133,306 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $629,473 | $313,695 |
| Median Household Income | $150,937 | $75,381 |
| Average Commute | 29.4 min | 26 min |
| Walk Score | 46 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 9.3 | 6.3 |
| School Rating | 9.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 101 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | R+13.7 |
C
75.7 Score
Naperville, IL
Where families thrive and communities flourish
Median Home
$629,473
Population
149,424
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Midwest
View Naperville, 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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