Photo: Felipe Galoppini · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Sterling is healthier than 90%
Sterling trails Colorado on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sterling. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sterling
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Sterling
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.2%), vs 5.3% across Colorado. 1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.8%), vs 2.7% across Colorado. Heart disease is also above the state: 7%, vs 5.1% across Colorado. In all, Sterling runs above Colorado on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Sterling
55.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 16% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
More Sterling adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (24.3%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. There are 12 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Sterling is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Sterling is healthier than 43%. Against the 3,419 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 90%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Colorado figure falls outside Sterling’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Sterling’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sterling is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns, #145 of 159 in Colorado. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 81% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 17%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Sterling’s median household income is $43,283; among the 3,419 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 90%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Colorado towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Sterling is healthier than 9% of graded towns, against 43% nationally.
Out of every 100 Sterling adults…
Sterling runs above CO on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sterling adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Sterling
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Sterling, plus the nearest just outside it.
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; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Sterling adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Sterling runs above Colorado.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Sterling and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | C+ | 30.6% | 11% | 17.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sterling adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sterling
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sterling is better than Colorado on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Sterling’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sterling | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.7–25.4 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.5–17.2 | 11.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17–21.3 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.6%23.4–38.5 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.5–12.6 | 8.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.3%28.3–36.4 | 27% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.2%28.1–36.4 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.2%22.2–28.2 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.8 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.2%7.3–9.3 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13–19.4 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%14.8–19.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.3%20.2–28.7 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.4–21.2 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%28–41.4 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.3%14.1–18.7 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.5%63.9–72.8 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.4%51.4–59.4 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.6%77.3–81.9 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.4%65.1–71.6 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.3%53.9–64.8 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.9%56.6–74.8 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.2–27.7 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.8%30.4–39.3 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.9–16.8 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.8%16.8–21 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%6–7.3 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%9–11.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 2.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Sterling
Is Sterling a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sterling is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #145 of 159 in Colorado. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sterling?
CDC estimates 30.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 38.5%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sterling?
Sterling Regional Medcenter in Sterling, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Sterling’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sterling have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–18.7%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Sterling more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sterling.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.