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Sterling Heights vs Wayne Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Sterling Heights crime rate · Wayne crime rate

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Is Sterling Heights or Wayne Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Sterling Heights is safer than Wayne (Safety Score 64/100 vs 41/100), with a total crime rate of 1,273 per 100,000 versus 1,995 for Wayne — 36% lower. Sterling Heights has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Sterling Heights has a 87% lower rate.

Note: Sterling Heights is 7.9x 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 Sterling Heights, MI?

Sterling Heights — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Wayne — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Sterling Heights, MI

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

Wayne, MI

Wayne, MI
Safety Score 41/100
Coverage 16,891
Total Crime Rate 1,995.2
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Sterling Heights Wayne Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,273.1 1,995.2 -722.0
Violent Crime Rate 230.7 692.7 -462.0
Murder Rate 0.8 5.9 -5.2
Rape Rate 30.8 82.9 -52.1
Robbery Rate 15.0 53.3 -38.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 182.6 550.6 -368.0
Property Crime Rate 1,042.4 1,302.5 -260.1
Burglary Rate 76.7 183.5 -106.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 789.1 769.6 +19.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 176.6 349.3 -172.7

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

Moving from Sterling Heights, MI to Wayne, 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 Sterling Heights or Wayne safer?

Sterling Heights is safer with a total crime rate of 1,273 per 100K vs 1,995 for Wayne — a 36% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Sterling Heights has a violent crime rate of 230.7 per 100K while Wayne has 692.7. Sterling Heights has lower violent crime.

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.

About Wayne, MI

Wayne, Michigan, a western suburb of Detroit, was once home to a Ford Motor Company assembly plant. This city in Wayne County has a population of around 17,000 residents. With a safety score of 41/100 and a population coverage of 16,891, Wayne has a total crime rate of 1,995.2 per 100,000 residents.

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