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Royal Oak vs Sterling Heights Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Royal Oak crime rate · Sterling Heights crime rate

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Is Royal Oak or Sterling Heights Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Royal Oak is safer than Sterling Heights (Safety Score 78/100 vs 64/100), with a total crime rate of 926 per 100,000 versus 1,273 for Sterling Heights — 27% lower. Royal Oak has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Sterling Heights is 2.3x 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 Royal Oak, MI?

Royal Oak — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Sterling Heights — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Royal Oak, MI

Royal Oak, MI
Safety Score 78/100
Coverage 57,257
Total Crime Rate 925.7
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 Royal Oak Sterling Heights Difference
Total Crime Rate 925.7 1,273.1 -347.5
Violent Crime Rate 124.0 230.7 -106.7
Murder Rate 0.0 0.8 -0.8
Rape Rate 7.0 30.8 -23.8
Robbery Rate 12.2 15.0 -2.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 104.8 182.6 -77.8
Property Crime Rate 801.7 1,042.4 -240.8
Burglary Rate 64.6 76.7 -12.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 616.5 789.1 -172.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 120.5 176.6 -56.1

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

Moving from Royal Oak, 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 Royal Oak or Sterling Heights safer?

Royal Oak is safer with a total crime rate of 926 per 100K vs 1,273 for Sterling Heights — a 27% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Royal Oak has a violent crime rate of 124.0 per 100K while Sterling Heights has 230.7. Royal Oak has lower violent crime.

About Royal Oak, MI

Royal Oak, a vibrant Detroit suburb, boasts a rich arts scene with the landmark Emagine Theatre. Its dense population of young professionals and families enjoys a walkable downtown with diverse dining and entertainment. With a safety score of 78/100 and a population coverage of 57,257, Royal Oak has a total crime rate of 925.7 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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