Sterling Heights has ranked in the top 10 places in metro Detroit to raise a family, according to a new poll.

Data on 59 suburbs in the Detroit metropolitan area was examined by financial media outlet Benzinga, with Royal Oak scoring the best location to raise a family and Novi second. Sterling Heights, with a population of 133,618, ranked No. 10 in the list.

The rank is based on a “school score”, which reflects the percentage of high school students who scored "proficient" or "advanced'" on state tests from MI School Data, and a “park score” uses data from Southeast Michigan ParkFinder. In Sterling Heights, 51 percent of students in the city are meeting state academic standards.

The media site claims Sterling Heights is one of the best suburbs to raise a family because of its quality of life standards provided by “exceptional neighborhoods, a great library, and several beautiful parks”.

The scores took into account the number of parks in each city, which includes trails and fitness, sports and games, winter recreation, water recreation, outdoor recreation, amenities, and facilities.

Sterling Heights is boosted by its recent Recreating Recreation project, which involves significant updates to parks and amenities in the city. Parks and Recreation director Kyle Langlois said the poll “gets at the heart” of what the city is trying to achieve.

“A strong community requires people in all demographics, but young families are important to not only sustain our city, but also our excellent school districts,” Langlois says.
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor agrees, saying that it's gratifying to know that the $50 million recreational project is making a difference. "Best of all," he says, "we are only just beginning."

Low crimes rates and low taxes in Sterling Heights also contributed to the scores. Another factor that helped the city’s rank is its numerous activities geared toward children. Sterling Heights hosts major events throughout the year that cater to families, such as the Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair, which attracts more than 100,000 people.