Martin receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Sterling
Martin
Opportunity
30 · Bottom 6%
vs28 · Bottom 5%
Growth
3 · Bottom 1%
vs23 · Bottom 10%
Climate
56 · Bottom 7%
vs73 · Top 37%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 34%
vs49 · Bottom 40%
Housing affordability
53 · Bottom 13%
vs69 · Bottom 33%
Access
57 · Bottom 6%
vs61 · Bottom 7%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 15%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Sterling | Martin | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,172 | 10,915 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $43,283 | $43,381 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $22,573 | $24,910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,729/sq mi | 880/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $217,400 | $198,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,031 | $859 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.9% | 42.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.8% | -2.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 30.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 26.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -100.0% | -78.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 15.2" | 54.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 77 mi | 66 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 15.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 24.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Sterling
Elevated or high exposure: hail, cold wave, tornado.
Martin
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Sterling, CO · Martin, TN · How this is calculated: methodology