Sterling is a small town of 288 in Ohio, with a median household income of $55,714
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sterling stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
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: 88.0
Sterling's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sterling costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sterling, OH
National Avg
Median Home Value
$116,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,714
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Sterling's violent crime rate is 116.7 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
116.7 /100k
Property Crime
977.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Sterling, OH
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sterling sees average highs of 33.9°F in January
and 82.4°F in July,
with 42.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.7 inches of snow per year.
Sterling's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sterling roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $116,500 and median rent is $675/month.
Sterling's violent crime rate is 116.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 977.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Sterling, OH has a population of 288, a median household income of $55,714, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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 33.9°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.8 inches
with about 35.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sterling, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 44276.
The population of Sterling, Ohio is 288 with a median age of 52.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sterling: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $116,500, median household income $55,714, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.