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Area data

Sterling, NE — ZIP 68443

Population: 1,200 (Census ACS)

The median home value (Census ACS) in ZIP 68443 (Sterling, NE) is $174,000. Homes sell for a median $580,000 after a median 145 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low. Cost of living is 9.9% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$174,000

Median home value (Census)

145

Median days on market

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value (Census)
$174,000
House Price Index (state)
443.6 (+2.0% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$580,000
Median list price
$199,900
Median price per sqft
$188
1-year sale-price change
+307.0%
Median days on market
145 days
Homes sold (recent period)
3
For-sale inventory
5
Sale-to-list ratio
90.0%
Active listings
1

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$769/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$812/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,062/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,265/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,445/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
90.1 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
12.3¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$11.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
1
Avg student-teacher ratio
11.3 : 1
Schools include
STERLING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STERLING HIGH SCHOOL

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Notable hazard ratings (county)
hail: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Low · tornado: Relatively Low · ice storm: Relatively Low · wildfire: Relatively Low · winter weather: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 77% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
57.0%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
31.4 in
Annual snowfall
21.0 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Homestead National Historical Park (27 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
16
Nearest airport
Korver Airport (9 mi)
Nearest major airport
Lincoln Airport (LNK) (33 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
15
Hospitals include
GREAT PLAINS OF SABETHA, COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE, INC., HANOVER HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.8 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.3 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1954
Housing built before 1970
61.6%
Housing built 2000 or later
14.3%
Median annual property tax
$2,151
Mean commute to work
24 min
Households with broadband internet
57.5%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
700
Average weekly wage
$848
Top industries (by employment)
Wholesale Trade, Construction, Finance & Insurance
Annual residential building permits (county)
4

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 68443State medianUS median
Median sale price$580,000$268,738$325,000
Median days on market145 days36 days51 days
Median annual property tax$2,151$2,000$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 68443?
$174,000 (Census ACS).
What is the median sale price in ZIP 68443?
$580,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 68443?
Median days on market: 145 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 68443?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,062/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 68443?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level).
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 68443?
Risk to homes is higher than 77% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 68443?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 68443?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 68443?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 68443?
Regional Price Parity: 90.1 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

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