The Town FilesSterling, Oklahoma
Town in Comanche County · population 668 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,900
- Household income
- $67,981
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.2
Sterling is a town of 668 people in Comanche County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $131,900, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Oklahoma towns, better for families than 82% of Oklahoma towns, more of a college town than 79% of Oklahoma towns.
How Sterling ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sterling is worth $131,900, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $67,981, which is more affordable than 80% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $604 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sterling | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,900 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $604 | $830 |
| Median household income | $67,981 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sterling
| People | Sterling | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.1% | 86.0% |
Weather in Sterling
July highs average 95.9°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 19, 1983 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 136 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 21, 2020.
Severe weather in Comanche County since 1996
Comanche County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4721: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| December 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Comanche County
Comanche County had 41,346 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Sterling itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Sterling
2 public schools with 318 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STERLING ES | PK-8 | 221 | 15.8 |
| STERLING HS | 9-12 | 97 | 16.2 |
Towns near Sterling
- Fletcher, OK6.1 mi · 1,204 people · home $148,300
- Elgin, OK7.5 mi · 3,656 people · home $260,700
- Cyril, OK10.4 mi · 827 people · home $109,000
- Central High, OK10.5 mi · 1,181 people · home $211,200
- Rush Springs, OK12.4 mi · 997 people · home $85,700
- Apache, OK14.5 mi · 1,034 people · home $86,100
- Marlow, OK14.7 mi · 4,385 people · home $136,300
- Lawton, OK16.8 mi · 90,381 people · home $142,100
Sterling questions
Is Sterling, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sterling scores better for retirees than 50% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 56%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Sterling?
The median owner-occupied home in Sterling is valued at $131,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,981, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $604 a month.
What is the weather like in Sterling?
July highs average 95.9°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Sterling get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 19, 1983. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)