Sterling Heights, Michigan Income Statistics
Sterling Heights Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Sterling Heights Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Sterling Heights | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,961 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,972 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.6% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Sterling Heights is about 10% higher than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Sterling Heights (3.6%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Sterling Heights earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Sterling Heights, Michigan grew by 33.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $79,961 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Sterling Heights
| Metric | Sterling Heights | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.547 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,687 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,387 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.7% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Sterling Heights, it is 0.547, higher than Michigan's 0.539, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 29% more than women's income in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $570,500 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Sterling Heights, Michigan has narrowed from about 33% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,123 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Sterling Heights | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.7% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 4,116 people are unemployed in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
The average commute time in Sterling Heights is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Sterling Heights, Michigan has fallen from 11.3% to 6.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2018.
Sterling Heights, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Sterling Heights, MI compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Heights, MI | 133,426 | $79,961 #1/3 | 3.6%/yr #3/3 | 6.1% #2/3 | 0.547 #3/3 |
| Warren, MI | 137,927 | $63,316 | 4.7%/yr | 8.0% | 0.529 |
| Madison Heights, MI | 28,434 | $69,481 | 6.0%/yr | 2.8% | 0.482 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Sterling Heights, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Michigan, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
How Rich Is Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Sterling Heights has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $79,961, about 10% higher than the Michigan average of $72,977.
Are incomes growing in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Sterling Heights, Michigan rose 33%, from $59,982 to $79,961. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +33% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Sterling Heights in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Sterling Heights, Michigan was $78,573, up 4% from $75,534 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Sterling Heights in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Sterling Heights, Michigan was $66,097. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $79,961.
What is the Gini coefficient in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Sterling Heights is 0.547. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Sterling Heights, Michigan has narrowed from about 33% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,123 since 2009.
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