Sterling, NE

Full City Profile · Nebraska · Johnson County County

4.0 /5.0
A Great
685 Population 1,713/sq mi density
$72,083 Median Income $30,840 per capita
$120,700 Home Value $337,328 Zillow
$793 Median Rent 18.9% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature
A
Overall
4.0 / 5.0
Strong
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$72,083 median income, 4.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$120,700 home value, $793/mo rent
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.6% bachelor's degree or higher

Sterling, NE

At a Glance

Median Income
$72,083
4% below
$30,840 per capita
Home Value
$120,700
57% below
Zillow: $337,328
Median Rent
$793/mo
32% below
18.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
26.6%
21% below
94.2% high school+
Unemployment
4.6%
28% above
6.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.6%
11% above
13.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F

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
96%
Home Value
43%
Rent
68%
Poverty
54%
Bachelor's
79%
Unemployment
128%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Sterling a Good Place to Live?

A
4.0 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Sterling residents earn a median household income of $72,083 , which is 4% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $30,840. The unemployment rate stands at 4.6% (28% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 6.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 131 business establishments, including 8 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Sterling is $120,700 , 57% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $337,328. Median rent is $793/month, with 18.9% 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 1944.

Education

26.6% of adults in Sterling hold a bachelor's degree or higher (21% below the national average). 94.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.0/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Sterling has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 31.4 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population685
Median Age37.8 yrs
Density1,713/mi²
Male / Female54% / 46%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans6.3%

Economy

A
Median Income$72,083
Per Capita$30,840
Unemployment4.6%
Poverty6.7%
County GDP$253M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,043

Housing

A+
Home Value$120,700
Rent$793
Ownership77.5%
Zillow$337,328
Housing Units276
Rent Burden18.9%

Health

Obesity35.6%
Diabetes8.3%
Smoking13.6%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death7,995/100K

Climate

Avg Temp51°F
Rain31.4 in/yr
Elevation1,202 ft

Education

B
Bachelor's+26.6%
High School+94.2%
Graduate+12.1%
School Score6.0/10

Community

2024 VoteR 70% / D 29%
Commute28 min
Broadband84.7%
Internet Speed42 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries2

Did You Know?

The median home in Sterling was built in 1944.
The nearest airport is Lincoln (38 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.396 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
21.5% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.