Checked
Sterling, KS
City in Rice County, Kansas.
Population
2,411
Land area
1.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,293
ZIP codes
0
Sterling and its ZIP codes
Sterling at a glance
- Sterling is about 36 times as dense as Kansas as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 109th among 721 cities and towns in Kansas.
- The median household income is $54,922, 26% below the Kansas median of $74,275.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $133,000 (39% below Kansas) and median rent is $689 a month.
Local data for Sterling, KS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Sterling, KS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,922
Poverty rate
5.7%
Median home value
$133,000
Median rent
$689/mo
Homeownership
75.6%
Bachelor's or higher
39.8%
Median age
29.4
Average commute
20.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (804), Irish Americans (215), Mexican Americans (100).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Rice County. PPP loans are for Sterling.
Unemployment rate
4.2%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,330
3,829 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$59,723
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$76.2M
FY 2026, $8,080 per person
How people get to work
Sterling, KS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.4%
- Carpooled6.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked12.1%
- Bicycle1.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home7.9%
Average one-way commute: 20.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Sterling, KS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
714
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
31
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 20°F
29.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Sterling, KS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.1%
U.S. 33.3% +3.8 pts
Diabetes
9.9%
U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts
Smoking
13.0%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
8.5%
U.S. 11.1% -2.6 pts
Cities near Sterling
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| AldenCity | 6.1 mi | 0.2 |
| NickersonCity | 7.7 mi | 1.3 |
| LyonsCity | 9.3 mi | 2.7 |
| RaymondCity | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| ChaseCity | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| WillowbrookCity | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| The HighlandsCity | 14 mi | 1 |
| Little RiverCity | 16 mi | 0.4 |
| AbbyvilleCity | 17 mi | 0.3 |
| PlevnaCity | 17 mi | 0.2 |
| PartridgeCity | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| HutchinsonCity | 19 mi | 25.4 |
| South HutchinsonCity | 19 mi | 2.8 |
| WindomCity | 20 mi | 0.2 |
| SylviaCity | 21 mi | 0.3 |
| FrederickCity | 21 mi | 0.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Sterling, KS in?
- Sterling is in Rice County, Kansas.
- What is the population of Sterling, KS?
- About 2,411 people live in Sterling, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Sterling?
- Nearby places include Alden (6.1 mi), Nickerson (7.7 mi), Lyons (9.3 mi), Raymond (12 mi), Chase (13 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023