Below Average CostNear National AverageSchool District No. Re-1 Valley
Sterling CO main street · Felipe Galoppini / Public domainSterling Co Mar 28 1911 · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainOverland Trail Museum · Jeffrey Beall / CC BY-SA 3.0
Sterling is a small city of 13,466 in Colorado, with a median household income of $44,556
and a 3.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sterling stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sterling is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sterling city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.9
Sterling's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sterling costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sterling, CO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$183,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$838
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,556
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sterling's violent crime rate is 398.3 per 100,000 residents
— 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
398.3 /100k
Property Crime
2920.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sterling is served primarily by School District No. Re-1 Valley.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sterling, CO
National Avg
School District
School District No. Re-1 Valley
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sterling sees average highs of 42.1°F in January
and 91.2°F in July,
with 17.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.6 inches of snow per year.
Sterling's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sterling roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $183,000 and median rent is $838/month.
Sterling's violent crime rate is 398.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2920.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sterling are operated by School District No. Re-1 Valley.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sterling, CO has a population of 13,466, a median household income of $44,556, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Sterling averages 42.1°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.2 inches
with about 36.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sterling, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 80751.
The population of Sterling, Colorado is 13,466 with a median age of 37.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sterling: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $183,000, median household income $44,556, crime index 119 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sterling side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
