1910 · Sterling N. Dakota, Main Street toward north · Library of Congress
Sterling’s story
Sterling in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
SterlingND
A town of 151. Nearly 26.7% of it is conserved land.
Population
151
residents
Typical home
$244K
+20.2% in a year
Median age
47.5
years
Jobs based here
5
A commuter town
What makes Sterling stand out
The thing Sterling does most differently from other towns.
Small town
151 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
TaftChristianiaDriscollMcKenzieSterling
Sterling’s report card
Now in Sterling
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sterling. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a quarter of Sterling is conserved land
32 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
26.7%conserved
26.7%
conserved · 6,103 of 22,824 acres
32 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
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 Bismarck (64%), Mandan (10%) and Fargo (4%). Half commute less than 25 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Sterling1%
Bismarck64%
Mandan10%
Fargo4%
Denver1%
25 mi
median commute distance
5
jobs based in Sterling
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
High risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 78% of U.S. communities.
78risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Sterling has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 1°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
45″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–23°
Spring30–53°
Summer55–80°
Fall32–55°
Sep 25
typical first frost
May 15
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Sterling home is worth about $244K
The typical Sterling home is worth about $244,000, up 20.2% in a year, 16% below the North Dakota typical home.
$244KZillow home value
Typical home value
Sterling$244K
North Dakota$292K
+20.2%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
How healthy Sterling is
Sterling beats the North Dakota average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
32 measures vs. North Dakota
4 better21 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Sterling | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 18.2% | 21.3% |
| More adults seeing a dentist | 70.6% | 64.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.8% | 8.2% |
Chi St. Alexius Health
24.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
The schools Sterling’s kids attend
STERLING 35 · 1 schools
| School | Grades | Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Elementary School | PK–8 | 21 |
NCES · EDFactsAll 1 schools →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Sterling for work
Where Sterling’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
5jobs based in Sterling
1%of working residents work in town
25 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Sterling
Unincorporated community in North Dakota, United States
Sterling is an unincorporated community in Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States at the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 83. Sterling is part of the "Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area" or "Bismarck-Mandan".
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,932 ft
- ZIP code
- 58572