Jane Macon Middle School, Glynn County, GA, US · Jud McCranie / CC BY-SA 4.0Stirling Elementary School, Glynn County, GA, US · Jud McCranie / CC BY-SA 4.0
Sterling is a small town of 1,903 in Georgia, with a median household income of $67,780
and a 9.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sterling stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 89.7
Sterling's overall cost of living index is 89.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sterling costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sterling, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$69,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$823
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,780
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Sterling's violent crime rate is 247.4 per 100,000 residents
— 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
247.4 /100k
Property Crime
1355.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sterling is served primarily by Glynn County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sterling, GA
National Avg
School District
Glynn County
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sterling sees average highs of 61.0°F in January
and 90.3°F in July,
with 50.3 inches of annual precipitation
.
Sterling's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sterling roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $69,200 and median rent is $823/month.
Sterling's violent crime rate is 247.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1355.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sterling are operated by Glynn County.
The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sterling, GA has a population of 1,903, a median household income of $67,780, and an unemployment rate of 9.9%.
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 61.0°F in January and 90.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.3 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sterling, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 31523.
The population of Sterling, Georgia is 1,903 with a median age of 35.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sterling: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $69,200, median household income $67,780, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.
