Sterling Congregational Church · National Register of Historic Places
Sterling’s story
Sterling in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →SterlingMN
A town of 278.
Population
278
residents
Median home value
$273K
Census ACS
Household income
$111K
median
Median age
52.0
years
Jobs based here
35
A commuter town
Small town
278 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
MapletonShelbyLyraDelavanWinnebago CitySterling
Sterling’s report card
Now in Sterling
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sterling. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Sterling
Most working residents leave Sterling for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Mankato (28%), North Mankato (13%) and Mapleton (12%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Sterling1%
Mankato28%
North Mankato13%
Mapleton12%
South Bend3%
19 mi
median commute distance
35
jobs based in Sterling
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Sterling has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 47 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
47″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–27°
Spring35–56°
Summer60–81°
Fall38–58°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 39% of U.S. communities.
39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesDrought
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Sterling is
Sterling beats the Minnesota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better25 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Sterling | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.4% | 5.9% |
| More adults with arthritis | 26.9% | 22.3% |
United Hospital District
18 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
1.5% of Sterling is conserved land
0.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
1.5%conserved
1.5%
conserved · 350 of 22,902 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Daly Park & Campground | 0.6 mi | 46 |
| 2. George & Elizabeth Lange Wildlife Management Area | — | 74 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Sterling for work
Where Sterling’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
35jobs based in Sterling
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Sterling
Township in Minnesota, United States
Sterling Township is a township in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 276 as of the 2000 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 244
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,004 ft