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Sterling, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Logan County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
13,273 Population 1,742/sq mi density
$44,242 Median Income $23,613 per capita
$205,200 Home Value $240,721 Zillow
$1,052 Median Rent 27.6% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 316 sunny days/yr
788 Violent Crime/100K 3,404 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.2 / 5.0
$44,242 median income, 4.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.1 / 5.0
$205,200 home value, $1,052/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
788 violent crimes/100K (107% above avg)
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
14.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Sterling experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 316 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 15.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average51.4°F
5% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days316 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,933 ft (1,199 m)
Area7.6 sq mi (19.7 km²)
Population Density1,742/sq mi
Coordinates40.6205°N, 103.1926°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyLogan County County
Nearest AirportColorado Plains Regional (AKO)
31 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 15.2"
60% below US avg
Wettest Month (May) 2.95"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.28"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score58.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability53.0 / 100
Community Resilience19.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.2. Most recent: M2.9 on Mar 30, 2019.

Jun 1, 2014 9 km NNW of Kersey, Colorado M3.2 121 km
Mar 30, 2019 7 km NE of Greeley, Colorado M2.9 123 km
Aug 23, 2016 2 km SSE of Eaton, Colorado M2.6 128 km
Jun 23, 2014 6 km NNE of Kersey, Colorado M2.5 116 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

689 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 32 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 8, 2023 EF3 58 km 0
Jul 5, 2000 EF3 42 km 0
May 30, 1996 EF3 78 km 0
May 10, 1975 EF3 44 km 0
Aug 15, 1974 EF3 7 km 0
Jun 27, 1960 EF3 68 km 2
Jun 27, 1960 EF3 70 km 0
Jun 20, 1960 EF3 86 km 0
May 19, 2024 EF2 28 km 0
Jun 21, 2023 EF2 84 km 0
Jun 21, 2023 EF2 60 km 0
Jun 21, 2023 EF2 67 km 0
Sep 11, 2019 EF2 20 km 0
Sep 11, 2019 EF2 23 km 0
Jul 29, 2018 EF2 54 km 0
Jul 29, 2018 EF2 53 km 0
May 7, 2016 EF2 93 km 0
May 7, 2016 EF2 99 km 0
Jul 30, 1996 EF2 72 km 0
Jul 13, 1996 EF2 40 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

18 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: LOGAN (30,076 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 LOGAN 30,076 42 km
2002 UNNAMED 8,688 55 km
2002 UNNAMED 5,258 69 km
2001 UNNAMED 3,760 53 km
2021 BIJOU 3,485 82 km
2002 UNNAMED 3,275 12 km
2002 UNNAMED 2,261 50 km
2002 UNNAMED 2,134 60 km
2022 COUNTY ROAD R 2,080 81 km
2018 COUNTY ROAD 56 1,866 83 km
1989 UNNAMED 1,782 62 km
2024 104 1,745 48 km
1994 STABLE 1,706 93 km
2020 SHAMROCK 1,582 94 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,337 94 km
2019 KEOTA 1,146 68 km
2002 UNNAMED 1,099 99 km
2006 I 76 1,033 6 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 0.3 in
February 32°F (-0°C) 0.3 in Driest
March 39°F (4°C) 0.9 in
April 48°F (9°C) 1.4 in
May 58°F (15°C) 3.0 in Wettest
June 69°F (20°C) 2.7 in
July 77°F (25°C) 2.6 in Warmest
August 73°F (23°C) 1.7 in
September 63°F (17°C) 1.1 in
October 50°F (10°C) 0.8 in
November 36°F (2°C) 0.5 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 0.3 in Coldest

Sterling has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 27°F in December to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.0") and February the driest (0.3").

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