The city of Sterling Heights has been ranked the #1 Best City in Michigan for First-Time Home Buyers in 2025, according to a comprehensive new study by WalletHub, a nationally recognized personal finance website.
The annual report evaluated over 300 U.S. cities based on key metrics including affordability, real estate market attractiveness, and quality of life. Sterling Heights not only topped the list in Michigan but also ranked among the leading cities nationwide, standing out for its strong housing market, competitive pricing, low crime rates and robust economic opportunities.
"This recognition is a reflection of a lot of hard work we’ve been doing and the smart, forward-thinking investments we, along with our residents, have chosen to make for our neighborhoods, infrastructure and public safety,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor. “Sterling Heights continues to be a place where families can grow, thrive and achieve the dream of homeownership.”
WalletHub’s analysis considered a wide range of factors impacting first-time home buyers. These include factors like affordability (median home prices, cost of living, property taxes, insurance), real estate (market activity, pricing trends, foreclosure rates, millennial homeownership) and quality of life (schools, employment opportunities, crime rates, driving conditions, access to amenities like parks and weather).
Sterling Heights scored particularly high in affordability and overall quality of life. In fact, with a high level of affordability paired with high quality of life scores, WalletHub has described Sterling Heights as, “as close as you can get to the best of both worlds in the state of Michigan without sacrificing one for the other.”
"Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions a person can make, and we’re proud that Sterling Heights is leading the way in making that dream attainable for first-time buyers," said Sterling Heights City Manager Mark Vanderpool. “As part of our Visioning 2040 plan, we continue to provide a welcoming, vibrant and economically sound community for all residents.”
Sterling Heights continues to see sustained growth and remains one of the safest and most desirable cities in Michigan, as demonstrated by other recent recognition such as:
- Sterling Heights is the safest big city in Michigan per the most recent Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation – National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data.
- Sterling Heights is the 14th safest and most affordable city in the nation by gobankingrates.com in June 2024.
- Sterling Heights was named one of 12 Metro Detroit Housing Markets to watch in 2023 by Crain’s Detroit Business.
- Sterling Heights ranks in the lower half of low millage rates statewide.
- Sterling Heights has low debt and a superior AA bond rating.
- Sterling Heights has high resident satisfaction based on statistically valid community surveys conducted every few years.
For more information about the WalletHub ranking, visit wallethub.com.