Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Sterling Heights, MI has a Safety Score of 64/100 — safer than 64% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,273.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,063 of 2,957 US cities and #39 of 102 in Michigan.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Sterling Heights, MI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Sterling Heights, Michigan Safe?
Sterling Heights, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, is the second-largest city in Macomb County. Once a farming community known for its rhubarb, it now boasts a diverse population exceeding 130,000 residents.
Sterling Heights has a safety score of 64/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,273.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Sterling Heights ranks #39 out of 102 cities in Michigan and #1063 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 64th percentile for safety — safer than 64% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Sterling Heights are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Sterling Heights's total crime rate decreased by 0.5%, with violent crime rising 37%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sterling Heights Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 307 | 230.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 0.8 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 41 | 30.8 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 20 | 15.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 243 | 182.6 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,387 | 1,042.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 102 | 76.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,050 | 789.1 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 235 | 176.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sterling Heights vs Michigan Average
How does Sterling Heights's crime rate compare to the Michigan state average?
| Metric | Sterling Heights | Michigan Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 230.7 | 637.8 | -63.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,042.4 | 1,951.4 | -46.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.8 | 7.5 | -90.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,273.1 | 2,589.2 | -50.8% |
Sterling Heights Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Sterling Heights, Michigan.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 133,058 | 1,273.1 | 230.7 | 1,042.4 |
| 2023 | 131,801 | 1,279.2 | 168.4 | 1,110.8 |
| 2022 | 132,393 | 1,392.8 | 206.2 | 1,186.6 |
| 2021 | 131,911 | 1,032.5 | 183.5 | 849.1 |
| 2020 | 132,745 | 1,041.9 | 177.8 | 864.1 |
| 2019 | 133,377 | 979.9 | 125.2 | 854.7 |
Sterling Heights Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Sterling Heights and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Michigan crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sterling Heights, Michigan safe?
Sterling Heights has a safety score of 64/100, meaning it has less crime than about 64% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,273.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Sterling Heights is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
According to FBI data for 2024, Sterling Heights has a violent crime rate of 230.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,042.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Sterling Heights compare to the national average?
Sterling Heights's total crime rate of 1,273.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 133,058 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Sterling Heights?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Sterling Heights are larceny-theft (1,050 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (243 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.5x in the city.
Is Sterling Heights safe to visit?
Like any city, Sterling Heights has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 64/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.