Cost to Own
United States › Colorado › Logan County › Sterling Population 13,273 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $491 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Logan County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Sterling, Colorado

A $205,000 home here costs

$1,609

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $69,000 a year.

P&I 69%Tax 5%Insurance 4%Utilities 11%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,118. The real number is $491 higher every month, 44% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Logan County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Sterling median: $205,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
CO average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $164,000 borrowed $1,118
Property tax0.453% effective rate for Sterling itself $77
Homeowners insuranceColorado averages $1,802/yr (NAIC), or 0.348% of home value $59
Electricity17.17ยข/kWh, Colorado residential average, EIA $116
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $171
Total monthly $1,609

Sterling against Logan County and Colorado

MeasureSterlingLogan County
Median home value$205,200$228,100
Median property tax$930$1,072
Effective tax rate0.453%0.470%
Median gross rent$1,052$1,027
Population13,27321,067

The weather behind that power bill

Sterling sits in Logan County, which averages a high of 91.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.5°F in its coldest, with 15.24" of precipitation a year and 47% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,003 cooling and 5,938 heating degree days, which is what sets the $116 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Logan County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Logan County

No other places of this size are published in Logan County.

Full Logan County cost breakdown · Every county in Colorado

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Sterling averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Sterling every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Sterling I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Sterling?

A $205,000 home in Sterling, Colorado costs approximately $1,609 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,118 principal and interest, $77 property tax, $59 homeowners insurance, $184 utilities and $171 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Sterling?

Sterling has an effective property tax rate of 0.453%, based on a median home value of $205,200 and median real estate taxes of $930. That is lower than the Logan County average of 0.470%.

What is the average home price in Sterling?

The median owner-occupied home value in Sterling, Colorado is $205,200, against $228,100 across Logan County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sterling?

Median gross rent in Sterling is $1,052 a month, against $1,609 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Sterling?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sterling, Colorado at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $69,000 a year. That covers the full $1,609 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Sterling, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Colorado.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology