Where Sterling residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Sterling, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sterling. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sterling
Cancer runs high in Sterling
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 8.3% across Nebraska. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Nebraska 17%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Sterling adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Nebraska. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Nebraska figure falls outside Sterling’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Sterling adults…
Sterling runs above NE on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Sterling is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nebraska. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Sterling as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.5% of Sterling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Care in and near Sterling
No hospital or community health center in Sterling itself. These are the nearest.
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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Sterling adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
How Sterling adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Sterling adults feel lonely. 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 |
|---|
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 (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Sterling
Why doesn’t Sterling have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Sterling.
What hospital is closest to Sterling?
Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh, 11.0 miles in a straight line from Sterling’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sterling.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nebraska figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. 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.