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Rochester, MI vs Sterling Heights, MI Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Rochester crime rate · Sterling Heights crime rate

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Is Rochester, MI or Sterling Heights, MI Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Rochester, MI is safer than Sterling Heights, MI (Safety Score 96/100 vs 64/100), with a total crime rate of 401 per 100,000 versus 1,273 for Sterling Heights, MI — 68% lower. Rochester has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Sterling Heights is 10.5x 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 Rochester, MI?

Rochester — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Flat Property Decreasing Total

Sterling Heights — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Rochester, MI

Rochester, MI
Safety Score 96/100
Coverage 12,706
Total Crime Rate 401.4
Category Wins 7/7

Sterling Heights, MI

Sterling Heights, MI
Safety Score 64/100
Coverage 133,058
Total Crime Rate 1,273.1
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Rochester Sterling Heights Difference
Total Crime Rate 401.4 1,273.1 -871.7
Violent Crime Rate 23.6 230.7 -207.1
Murder Rate 0.0 0.8 -0.8
Rape Rate 0.0 30.8 -30.8
Robbery Rate 0.0 15.0 -15.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 23.6 182.6 -159.0
Property Crime Rate 377.8 1,042.4 -664.6
Burglary Rate 7.9 76.7 -68.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 330.6 789.1 -458.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 39.4 176.6 -137.3

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

Moving from Rochester, 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 Rochester or Sterling Heights safer?

Rochester, MI is safer with a total crime rate of 401 per 100K vs 1,273 for Sterling Heights, MI — a 68% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of 23.6 per 100K while Sterling Heights has 230.7. Rochester has lower violent crime.

About Rochester, MI

Rochester, Michigan, founded along the Clinton River, is a suburban community in Oakland County. This affluent area is known for its vibrant downtown and was home to Meadow Brook Hall, a historic estate. With a safety score of 96/100 and a population coverage of 12,706, Rochester has a total crime rate of 401.4 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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