MonitorBankRates
☰
New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Sterling Heights, MI Housing Affordability Index

Sterling Heights, Michigan has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 100.6 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 525th most affordable of 629 scored Michigan cities, compared with 108.6 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $274,300 home with 20% down, the Michigan average 30-year fixed rate of 7.31% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,505, or 23% of the city’s $79,909 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Sterling Heights is updated every night from live Michigan mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Sterling Heights MBR-HAI 100.6 Near National Average
Rank in Michigan 525 of 629 1 = most affordable
Michigan 108.6 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.31% Michigan lenders
Median home value $274,300 U.S. Census Bureau

Sterling Heights is 8.0 points below the Michigan score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Michigan index

View Sterling Heights Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Sterling Heights

$1,505/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.31%
$64,500
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$79,909
Median Household Income
Michigan: $72,875
3.4x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Michigan: 3.2x
$1,222/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$3,711/yr
Median Property Tax
1.35% of median value
28.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
53.7%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Sterling Heights, Michigan. The rate is the Michigan average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Sterling Heights Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Sterling Heights, Michigan score: 100.6 (Near National Average), ranked 525 of 629 Michigan cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/michigan/sterling-heights”