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Melvindale vs Sterling Heights Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Melvindale crime rate · Sterling Heights crime rate

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Is Melvindale or Sterling Heights Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Sterling Heights is safer than Melvindale (Safety Score 64/100 vs 58/100), with a total crime rate of 1,273 per 100,000 versus 1,467 for Melvindale — 13% lower. Melvindale has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Sterling Heights has a 95% lower rate.

Note: Sterling Heights is 10.8x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Melvindale, MI?

Melvindale — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Sterling Heights — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Melvindale, MI

Melvindale, MI
Safety Score 58/100
Coverage 12,267
Total Crime Rate 1,467.4
Category Wins 1/7

Sterling Heights, MI

Sterling Heights, MI
Safety Score 64/100
Coverage 133,058
Total Crime Rate 1,273.1
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Melvindale Sterling Heights Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,467.4 1,273.1 +194.2
Violent Crime Rate 301.6 230.7 +70.9
Murder Rate 16.3 0.8 +15.6
Rape Rate 32.6 30.8 +1.8
Robbery Rate 32.6 15.0 +17.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 220.1 182.6 +37.5
Property Crime Rate 1,165.7 1,042.4 +123.3
Burglary Rate 203.8 76.7 +127.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 709.2 789.1 -79.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 252.7 176.6 +76.1

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

Moving from Melvindale, 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 Melvindale or Sterling Heights safer?

Sterling Heights is safer with a total crime rate of 1,273 per 100K vs 1,467 for Melvindale — a 13% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Melvindale has a violent crime rate of 301.6 per 100K while Sterling Heights has 230.7. Sterling Heights has lower violent crime.

About Melvindale, MI

Melvindale, a Downriver community, was once home to a large Ford stamping plant. Situated just southwest of Detroit, it's a small, densely populated city with a strong working-class heritage. With a safety score of 58/100 and a population coverage of 12,267, Melvindale has a total crime rate of 1,467.4 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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