Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 550.
31% of residents are under 18 in Sterling, above both Wisconsin’s towns (21%) and U.S. towns (22%). Among 363 Wisconsin towns, just 9 have a higher average trip to work than Sterling. Sterling has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 1915.
Explore the history →Who provides power, water and the rest in Sterling, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Sterling.
Most working residents leave Sterling for work: only 2% work in town. Since 2013, Sterling has added 76 jobs, to 141 in 2023. 13% of Sterling residents live below the poverty line, against 6.4% in Wisconsin’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns.
| Sterling | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.9% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $72,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the De Soto Area School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie View ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 92 | B |
NCES · EDFacts
Sterling has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Sterling’s July high is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Sterling beats the Wisconsin average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 28% of adults feel lonely in Sterling.
| Sterling | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 33% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Sterling | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.6% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 88.4% | 85.9% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.6% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Sterling; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Sterling residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Where Sterling’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Sterling is a town in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 550 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Purdy, Retreat, and West Prairie are located in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Sterling has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.