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Sterling, NE

Village in Johnson County, Nebraska.

Population

717

Land area

0.4sq mi

People per sq mi

1,812

ZIP codes

0

Sterling and its ZIP codes

Full map

Sterling at a glance

  • Sterling is about 70 times as dense as Nebraska as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $70,313 a year, 8% less than the Nebraska figure of $76,475.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $130,400 (45% below Nebraska) and median rent is $830 a month.

Local data for Sterling, NE

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Sterling, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$70,313

Poverty rate

11.6%

Median home value

$130,400

Median rent

$830/mo

Homeownership

77.7%

Bachelor's or higher

24.8%

Median age

42.4

Average commute

24.0 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (434), Irish Americans (46), Scottish Americans (44).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Johnson County. PPP loans are for Sterling.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$56,935

1,469 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$45,756

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$31.8M

FY 2026, $6,015 per person

Johnson County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Sterling, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone73.7%
  • Carpooled14.6%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked8.9%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home2.9%

Average one-way commute: 24.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Sterling, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: wildfire

Storm events since 1996

335

Countywide, mostly hail

Flood insurance policies

16

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

88° / 13°F

32.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Sterling, NE, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

35.8%

U.S. 33.3% +2.5 pts

Diabetes

11.0%

U.S. 12.1% -1.1 pts

Smoking

13.2%

U.S. 12.8% about the same

Uninsured (18-64)

8.1%

U.S. 11.1% -3.0 pts

Cities near Sterling

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
BurrVillage6.6 mi0.1
AdamsVillage6.7 mi0.6
DouglasVillage9 mi0.2
Crab OrchardVillage9.1 mi0.2
TecumsehCity12 mi1.5
PanamaVillage12 mi0.3
CookVillage12 mi0.2
FirthVillage13 mi0.3
FilleyVillage15 mi0.1
LewistonVillage15 mi0.1
VirginiaVillage16 mi0.1
UnadillaVillage16 mi0.3
BennetVillage16 mi0.5
PalmyraVillage17 mi0.3
HickmanCity17 mi1.1
SyracuseCity17 mi1.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Sterling, NE in?
Sterling is in Johnson County, Nebraska.
What is the population of Sterling, NE?
About 717 people live in Sterling, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Sterling?
Nearby places include Burr (6.6 mi), Adams (6.7 mi), Douglas (9 mi), Crab Orchard (9.1 mi), Tecumseh (12 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023