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Sterling, KS

Full City Profile · Kansas · Rice County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
2,396 Population 1,281/sq mi density
$51,304 Median Income $24,712 per capita
$130,200 Home Value $162,558 Zillow
$618 Median Rent 22.3% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature 326 sunny days/yr
137 Violent Crime/100K 1,459 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$51,304 median income, 1.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$130,200 home value, $618/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
137 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.9 / 5.0
36.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Sterling, KS

At a Glance

Median Income
$51,304
32% below
$24,712 per capita
Home Value
$130,200
54% below
Zillow: $162,558
Median Rent
$618/mo
47% below
22.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
137/100K
64% below
1,459/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
36.1%
7% above
96.6% high school+
Unemployment
1.1%
69% below
3.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.4%
26% above
15.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F
326 sunny days/yr

How Sterling Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Sterling's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
68%
Home Value
46%
Rent
53%
Poverty
29%
Bachelor's
107%
Unemployment
31%
Crime
36%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Sterling a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Sterling residents earn a median household income of $51,304 , which is 32% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $24,712. The unemployment rate stands at 1.1% (69% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 356 business establishments, including 23 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Sterling is $130,200 , 54% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $162,558. Median rent is $618/month, with 22.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1957.

Safety & Crime

Sterling reports 137 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 64% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,459/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

36.1% of adults in Sterling hold a bachelor's degree or higher (7% above the national average). 96.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Sterling has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 326 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 29.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.

Data Overview

People

Population2,396
Median Age27.7 yrs
Density1,281/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.9%

Economy

A
Median Income$51,304
Per Capita$24,712
Unemployment1.1%
Poverty3.6%
County GDP$949M
Avg Weekly Wage$972

Housing

A+
Home Value$130,200
Rent$618
Ownership75.3%
Zillow$162,558
Housing Units917
Rent Burden22.3%

Crime

F
Violent137/100K
Property1,459/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault46/100K
Burglary593/100K

Health

Obesity40.4%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking15.5%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death8,472/100K

Climate

Avg Temp56°F
Sunny Days326/yr
Rain29.0 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation1,640 ft

Education

B+
Bachelor's+36.1%
High School+96.6%
Graduate+19.7%
School Score6.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 77% / D 21%
Commute22 min
Broadband87.9%
Internet Speed63 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries5

Did You Know?

The median home in Sterling was built in 1957.
The nearest airport is Hutchinson Regional (21 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.420 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
12.3% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.