Farmington Hills, MI vs Sterling Heights, MI

Sterling Heights is moderately more affordable than Farmington Hills, with a 13% lower cost of living index. Farmington Hills scores 106 compared to 94 for Sterling Heights, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Farmington Hills can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Farmington Hills is $1,475/month compared to $1,267/month in Sterling Heights — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sterling Heights is more affordable at $260,700 median vs $333,200.

Median household income in Farmington Hills is $101,863 compared to $78,429 in Sterling Heights (+29.9%). While Farmington Hills is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Farmington Hills spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, less than the 19.4% in Sterling Heights.