Sterling leans heavily Democratic by roughly 48 points: about 74% of voters vote Democratic and 26% Republican.
About 65% of adults in Sterling typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Sterling, ~48% vote Democratic, ~17% Republican, and ~35% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Sterling compares
Among neighborhoods within 5 miles, Sterling leans more Democratic than 21 of 23 neighbors.
Sterling runs about 52 points more Democratic than North Carolina as a whole. North Carolina leans Republican overall, while Sterling is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within Sterling. The north side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+60) and the southwest side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+20), a spread of about 40 points.
Why Sterling leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per neighborhood to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for Sterling, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Sterling votes against the grain of North Carolina. North Carolina leans Republican overall, while Sterling runs about 52 points more Democratic. A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 54% of adults in Sterling have never been married, above 88% of neighborhoods.
Adult arthritis and voter turnout
Places with a low adult-arthritis rate tend to turn out at a higher rate; Sterling, Charlotte, NC sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. Arthritis does not drive turnout; it reflects the age and health profile of an area.
Why turnout in Sterling looks the way it does
Turnout in Sterling sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Neighborhoods
- Starmount Forest-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC D+40
- Park Crossing, Charlotte, NC D+20
- Seven Eagles, Charlotte, NC D+14
- Quail Hollow, Charlotte, NC D+15
- Montclaire South, Charlotte, NC D+52
- Carmel, Charlotte, NC D+12
- Starmount, Charlotte, NC D+32
- Beverly Woods, Charlotte, NC D+7
- Johnston-McAlpine, Charlotte, NC D+17
- Sharon Woods, Charlotte, NC D+12
Neighborhoods with Similar Populations
- Newell, Charlotte, NC D+66
- North Waco, Waco, TX D+20
- South Abbott, Buffalo, NY D+6
- Lockeland Springs, Nashville, TN D+54
- Glennon Heights, Lakewood, CO D+10
- Wadeview Park, Orlando, FL D+15
- Tulane Gravier, New Orleans, LA D+70
- Olde Towne, Toledo, OH D+70
- Colonial Hills, Lincoln, NE D+5
- Southern Orchards, Columbus, OH D+74
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from North Carolina State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.