City

Sterling, KS

1 ZIP code  ·  Rice County  ·  Kansas

👥2,971Population
💰$56,977Median HH Income▼ 25% below avg
🎂32.4Median Age
🏠$149,400Median Home Value▼ 46% below avg
🎓47.6%College Grads▲ 23% above avg
📊1.5%Unemployment▼ 70% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 50.2% Female 49.9% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 84.9%Hispanic: 5.9%Black: 3.4%Asian: 0.2%Other: 4.9%Race
White84.9%
Hispanic5.9%
Black3.4%
Asian0.2%
Other4.9%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
6%
5–17
14%
18–24
22%
25–44
19%
45–64
20%
65+
8%

Key Indicators

Median Age32.4 yrs
Avg HH Size2.39
Below Poverty4.5% ▼ 55% below avg
College Grads47.6% ▲ 23% above avg
Unemployment1.5% ▼ 70% below avg
No HS Diploma4 (0.2%)
HS Graduate473 (28.6%)
Some College148 (9%)
Associates240 (14.5%)
Bachelors176 (10.7%)
Graduate Degree610 (36.9%)

Education

No HS: 0.2%HS Grad: 28.6%Some College: 9%Associates: 14.5%Bachelors: 10.7%Graduate: 36.9%Edu
No HS0.2%
HS Grad28.6%
Some College9.0%
Associates14.5%
Bachelors10.7%
Graduate36.9%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 80.3%Renter: 19.7%Tenure
Owner80.3%
Renter19.7%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
18%
$50k–$100k
17%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
15%
$200k–$300k
27%
$300k–$500k
7%
Over $500k
2%

Financials

Median HH Income$56,977 ▼ 25% below avg
Median Home Value$149,400 ▼ 46% below avg
Home/Income Ratio2.6x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$618/mo
Total Housing Units1,179
Vacant Units147

Income Distribution

Under $25k
19%
$25k–$50k
17%
$50k–$75k
22%
$75k–$100k
18%
$100k–$150k
15%
$150k–$200k
6%
Over $200k
3%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
78%
Walked
15%
Work From Home
7%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
53%
15–30 min
22%
30–45 min
15%
Over 45 min
9%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
4%
1940s–1950s
11%
1960s–1970s
9%
1980s–1990s
9%
2000+
67%
About Sterling, KS

Sterling is a city in Kansas, located in Rice County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 2,971 residents. It is a relatively young city, with a median age of 32.4 years.

Economically, Sterling is a solidly middle-class community. The median household income of $56,977 is below the national average. Approximately 4.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 1.5%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in Sterling is one of the more affordable housing markets in the country. Median home values stand at $149,400, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $618 per month. Homeownership is high at 80.3%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Sterling is well-educated. 47.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — above the national average. The community is primarily White (84.92%).

Sterling, KS offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within Kansas.

ZIP Codes in Sterling
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
67579 2,971 $56,977 $149,400 $618 1.5% 47.6% 80.3%