Santa Maria, CA vs Sterling Heights, MI

Sterling Heights is safer with a higher safety score by 14 points. Santa Maria, CA has a safety score of 61/100 while Sterling Heights, MI has 75/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Santa Maria, CA has a violent crime rate of 660.6 per 100,000 residents, while Sterling Heights, MI has 229.2 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Santa Maria, CA has a property crime rate of 1882.7 per 100,000, compared to 1042.4 per 100,000 in Sterling Heights, MI. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Sterling Heights is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.