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Alpena vs Sterling Heights Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Alpena crime rate · Sterling Heights crime rate

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Is Alpena or Sterling Heights Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Sterling Heights is safer than Alpena (Safety Score 64/100 vs 56/100), with a total crime rate of 1,273 per 100,000 versus 1,504 for Alpena — 15% lower. Alpena has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Alpena has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Sterling Heights is 13.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Alpena, MI?

Alpena — 2-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Sterling Heights — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Alpena, MI

Alpena, MI
Safety Score 56/100
Coverage 10,108
Total Crime Rate 1,503.8
Category Wins 5/7

Sterling Heights, MI

Sterling Heights, MI
Safety Score 64/100
Coverage 133,058
Total Crime Rate 1,273.1
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Alpena Sterling Heights Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,503.8 1,273.1 +230.6
Violent Crime Rate 514.4 230.7 +283.7
Murder Rate 0.0 0.8 -0.8
Rape Rate 158.3 30.8 +127.5
Robbery Rate 0.0 15.0 -15.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 356.2 182.6 +173.5
Property Crime Rate 989.3 1,042.4 -53.1
Burglary Rate 197.9 76.7 +121.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 732.1 789.1 -57.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 59.4 176.6 -117.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Alpena, MI to Sterling Heights, MI?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alpena or Sterling Heights safer?

Sterling Heights is safer with a total crime rate of 1,273 per 100K vs 1,504 for Alpena — a 15% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Alpena has a violent crime rate of 514.4 per 100K while Sterling Heights has 230.7. Sterling Heights has lower violent crime.

About Alpena, MI

Alpena, Michigan, "The Sanctuary of the Great Lakes," is a small city on Lake Huron. It's known for its limestone quarries and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 10,108, Alpena has a total crime rate of 1,503.8 per 100,000 residents.

About Sterling Heights, MI

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. With a safety score of 64/100 and a population coverage of 133,058, Sterling Heights has a total crime rate of 1,273.1 per 100,000 residents.

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