Health · Sterling

Sterling, OH health

Sterling differs from Ohio on 8 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (19.8% vs 15.4%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (19% vs 15.3%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 45176, 45154
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Sterling’s Health Grade: C−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Sterling is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns.

CSelf-rated healthC-Physical distressC-Mental distressC-ObesityCDiabetesDSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 16%
Less healthyHealthier
Ohio towns we grade (1,692)Healthier than 25%
Towns with similar incomes, $58K–$97K (9,842)Healthier than 7%

About what its income would suggest. Sterling does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Sterling could be anywhere from D− to C+.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Ohio ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Sterling with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Sterling’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card

How Sterling compares with Ohio

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Sterling adults…

40 of every 100 Sterling adults have high blood pressure
Ohio: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 37–43.5%

Bars show Sterling; the black tick is Ohio. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Sterling, betterSterling, worseToo close to callOhio
Get no exerciseshare of adults 31.9% Sterling
OH 26.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 40.2% Sterling
OH 37.9%
Binge drinkshare of adults 16% Sterling
OH 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 19.8% Sterling
OH 15.4%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Sterling adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.

80%
Yearly checkup
OH 80%
59%
Dentist visit
OH 63%
85%
Cholesterol check
OH 86%
64%
Colon screening
OH 65%
74%
Mammogram
OH 76%
79%
Taking BP meds
OH 79%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Sterling 8.3% · Ohio 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Sterling adults are doing

1 in 3Sterling adults feel lonely
34.9% · Ohio 35% · too close to call
1 in 4Sterling adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.6% · Ohio 25.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Sterling adults lack social or emotional support
21.8% · Ohio 21.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Sterling adults are in frequent mental distress
19.2% · Ohio 17.5% · too close to call
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Sterling adults worry about having enough food
15% · OH 14.1% · about the same
1 in 9
Sterling adults worry about keeping their housing
11.4% · OH 11.3% · about the same
1 in 12
Sterling adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.4% · OH 8.3% · about the same
1 in 13
Sterling adults lack reliable transportation
8% · OH 7.7% · about the same

12.9% of Sterling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.

Disability

Living with a disability

33.8%

of Sterling adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.3%
Thinking or memory15.8%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone9.3%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4.3%

Black tick: Ohio. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Sterling

Sterling and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Sterling.

Green: 42.2% Pike: 40.8% Jackson: 37.3% Perry: 39.2% Clay: 41.4% Salem: 40.2% Scott: 42% Washington: 41.5% Mount Orab: 43% Clark: 39.8% Wayne: 37% Williamsburg: 37.5% Stonelick: 35.6% Batavia: 36% Dodson: 40.2% Sterling: 40.1% Sterling Green Pike Jackson Perry Mercy Health - Clermont Hospital · Batavia · 8.6 mi · 4★ MedicareH Healthsource Mt. Orab · Mount Orab · 3.1 mi+ Highland Health Providers - Lynchburg Medical Center · Lynchburg · 15.5 mi+
35.6%43%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#8 of 16towns on this map, healthiest first
Jackson37.3%
Perry39.2%
Sterling40.1%
Pike40.8%
Green42.2%
6 places to get careNearest ER 8.6 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Sterling

1 community health center in Sterling, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMercy Health - Clermont HospitalBatavia · 8.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMercy Health-Anderson Hospital★★★★★ · 20.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHealthsource of OhioMount Orab · 3.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.1 mi
Healthsource of Ohio
7 sites · nearest in Mount Orab
Sliding-scale feesIn Sterling
Directions to nearest
8.6 mi
Mercy Health - Clermont Hospital
Batavia · ★★★★★
ER
15.5 mi
Highland Health Providers - Lynchburg Medical Center
Lynchburg · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
20.2 mi
Mercy Health-Anderson Hospital
Cincinnati · ★★★★★
ER
21.9 mi
Highland District Hospital
Hillsboro · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
23 mi
Bethesda North
Cincinnati · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careSterling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Brown County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careSterling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Brown County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthSterling's county is a federal shortage area.Brown County · need score 14 of 25

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Sterling. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Sterling
MeasureSterlingMarginOhio
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure40.2%37–43.5%37.2%about the same
High cholesterol39%35.6–42.4%36.7%about the same
Obesity40.1%34.8–45.6%37.1%about the same
Arthritis33.1%30.4–35.8%29.8%worse
Depression27.6%24.5–30.8%25.4%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)19%16.2–22.1%15.3%worse
Asthma11.5%10.4–12.7%11.1%about the same
Cancer (not skin)9.3%8.6–10.1%8.7%about the same
Diabetes14%12.5–15.6%13.2%about the same
COPD9.9%8.9–11%8%worse
Heart disease8%7.4–8.8%7.1%worse
Stroke3.9%3.6–4.3%3.7%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes19.8%17.5–22.3%15.4%worse
Binge drink16%13.7–18.6%16.6%about the same
Get no exercise31.9%28.2–35.9%26.9%worse
Sleep under 7 hours40.2%35.5–45.1%37.9%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup79.6%76.9–82.2%79.9%about the same
Dentist visit58.8%55.8–61.9%62.9%worse
Cholesterol check85.3%83.6–86.8%86.1%about the same
Colon screening64.4%60.4–68.2%65.2%about the same
Mammogram74%67.7–79.5%76%about the same
Taking BP meds79.4%77.2–81.6%79.2%about the same
No health insurance8.3%7–9.8%8%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely34.9%30.6–39.3%35%about the same
Lack emotional support21.8%19–24.9%21.3%about the same
Frequent mental distress19.2%17.4–21.1%17.5%about the same
Fair or poor health21.8%19.4–24.3%19.4%about the same
Frequent physical distress15.9%14.3–17.5%13.9%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity15%12.8–17.3%14.1%about the same
Housing insecurity11.4%9.9–13.1%11.3%about the same
Utility shut-off threat8.4%7.3–9.5%8.3%about the same
No reliable transportation8%7–9%7.7%about the same
Receive SNAP12.9%11–14.9%11.7%
Disability
Any disability33.8%30.2–37.3%29.5%
Walking or climbing stairs16.3%14.5–18.2%13.9%
Thinking or memory15.8%14.2–17.5%13.9%
Hearing7.6%6.9–8.4%6.8%
Vision5.2%4.7–5.7%4.8%
Dressing or bathing4.3%3.9–4.7%3.8%
Errands alone9.3%8.3–10.3%8.1%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Sterling door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Ohio figure falls inside it, we don't call Sterling better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Sterling by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Sterling by how much of its land each one covers.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01