Sterling is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,248. Sterling is home to Sterling College.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code67579

Area code620

Living in Sterling

Safety in Sterling

Safety Grade A

Sterling reports less crime per resident than 88% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Sterling 0.9

Kansas 4.8

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Sterling 3.9

Kansas 19.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Sterling

Full picture →

About one in 3 of Sterling’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Hutchinson (10%), Lyons (9%) and Wichita (7%). Half commute less than 12 miles.

Hutchinson

10%

Lyons

Wichita

Atlanta

33%Work in townlive and work in Sterling 12 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,221Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Sterling →

Health in Sterling

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 66% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 94% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Kansas

1worse than KS

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81%Fewer adults getting cholesterol checkedKS 84.1% · worse

Care nearby

Hospital District #1 of Rice CountyLyons · 9.2 mi · ER · rural critical access

Prairiestar Health CenterHutchinson · 19.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Sterling · CMS · HRSAHealth in Sterling →

Natural hazards in Sterling

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

4Does Sterling flood?paid flood claims since 2010 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Sterling

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Sterling →

Climate in Sterling

Full climate →

Sterling has chilly winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

45° / 22°Winter

67° / 43°Spring

90° / 66°Summer

69° / 45°Fall

How much snow does Sterling get?About 9 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 23, with the last in spring around Apr 15.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Sterling →

Schools in Sterling

All Sterling schools →

A⁺

School Grade A+

The public schools Sterling’s kids attend outperform 98% of Kansas’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictSterlingSchools2

Sterling Grade School AElementary · Grades PK–6 · 268 students Sterling Junior High/Senior High B+High · Grades 7–12 · 232 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within KS. Ratings are from neighbors.