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Living in
Sterling.
About
Life in Sterling
Sterling is a community of 13,273 people in Colorado. The median household income is $43,283, median rent runs about $1,031 per month, and median home values are around $217,400. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Sterling at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.0%
Foreign-Born
6.6%
Broadband Internet
83.0%
of households
Population Growth
-5.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sterling: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sterling, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (49.9%), and 8.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.0%
of households
Married Couples
30.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 41% below CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Sterling
In Sterling, rent runs 41% below the CO average, and home values are 60% below the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$939
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $244,568 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below CO average
Unemployment in Sterling
Unemployment in Logan County, which includes Sterling, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Sterling: Logan County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Logan County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sterling Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.7 min avg
How Sterling residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sterling, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 93 mi
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Major hub40.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sterling runs 14% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
283.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,308.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sterling Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
58.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Logan County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Logan County, which includes Sterling, the most common type is hail, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Hail | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 19 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Hail | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 22 | Hail | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Logan County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate88°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sterling has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/36°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.2"
Annual Snowfall
36.6"
Hot Days/Year
56
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
164
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
57
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 16°F | 0.33" |
| Feb | 46°F | 19°F | 0.54" |
| Mar | 57°F | 27°F | 0.77" |
| Apr | 64°F | 35°F | 1.32" |
| May | 73°F | 46°F | 2.24" |
| Jun | 85°F | 57°F | 2.20" |
| Jul | 91°F | 62°F | 2.67" |
| Aug | 89°F | 60°F | 1.52" |
| Sep | 81°F | 49°F | 1.63" |
| Oct | 66°F | 35°F | 1.22" |
| Nov | 53°F | 24°F | 0.45" |
| Dec | 42°F | 16°F | 0.35" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sterling
Sterling has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Sterling Regional Medcenter
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sterling
Sterling's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, 83 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sterling
Sterling has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail (83 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
83 mi awayScotts Bluff National Monument
National Monument
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sterling
Sterling Public Library
420 North Fifth Street, Sterling
Cities Near Sterling
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sterling?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sterling FAQ
Is Sterling, Colorado affordable?⌄
Sterling's median rent is $1,031/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $43,283/year. Median home value is $217,400.
Is Sterling, Colorado safe?⌄
Sterling's violent crime rate was 284 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2308 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sterling, Colorado?⌄
Logan County, which includes Sterling, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sterling, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Sterling is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,031/month and median household income is $43,283/year. The median home value is $217,400. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sterling, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Sterling is 15 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from