City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Sterling, NE

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sterling - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

685
Residents
$72,083
Median income
$120,700
Median home
$982
Median rent (state)

Sterling - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Sterling places in the 52nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

52nd
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sterling, NE

Nebraska's Sterling is a small town, with 685 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Sterling brings in $72,083 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.7%. Sterling's housing stock carries a median value of $120,700, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. 26.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity).

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Nebraska at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $982 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Nebraska run around $207, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 4.6 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

685 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$72,083 /yr

Poverty 6.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Sterling compare to other US cities?

Where Sterling sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Sterling against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nebraska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nebraska-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Sterling toward the top of Nebraska's cities

Among the 450 Nebraska cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Sterling ranks #102 - the 76th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sterling only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#146 of 439
67th percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#168 of 450
62nd percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#198 of 438
55th percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#201 of 450
55th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#102 of 450
76th percentile in Nebraska

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Nebraska only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

52ndIncome percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sterling's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$120,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sterling $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sterling, NE Sterling, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sterling, NE-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sterling, NE median $72,083/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sterling, NE's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sterling, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
685
Median Income
$72,083
Median Home Value
$120,700
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Labor force participation
62.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.6%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
470 residents475 residents480 residents485 residents 202020212022202320242025 482 residents 481 residents ▼ -0.2%
Sterling's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 2
2022 0
2023 4
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.0%
Carpool
18.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.6%
Work from Home
4.2%

Based on 331 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nebraska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$207
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nebraska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nebraska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sterling sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$982/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
4.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Bertrand
684 people
Juniata
684 people
Osmond
681 people
Peru
691 people
Overton
676 people
Hershey
671 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterling's 685 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fouke, AR
685 people
Waco, GA
685 people
Hurst, IL
685 people
Hodge, LA
685 people
North Chevy Chase, MD
685 people
Greenbush, MN
685 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterling's $72,083 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Dutton, AL
$72,083 median income
Salcha, AK
$72,083 median income
Morristown, AZ
$72,083 median income
Davenport, CA
$72,083 median income
Ducor, CA
$72,083 median income
Hillrose, CO
$72,083 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sterling, NE Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sterling, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.6% White 96.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 2.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sterling compares to nearby Nebraska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sterling (this city) 685 $72,083
Bertrand 684 $72,266
Juniata 684 $54,722
Osmond 681 $69,659
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sterling, NE?

What is the population of Sterling, NE? +

Sterling, NE counts 685 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sterling, NE? +

Median annual household income in Sterling runs $72,083, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sterling? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sterling; the closest available measure is the Nebraska state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nebraska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sterling, NE? +

Sterling's median home value sits at $120,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.