Population 16,459 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Sterling
Household size in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Sterling are small: just 2.38 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.47, in line with the national trend.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.4 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.0 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 38.9, the median age in Sterling is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in Sterling (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. Colorado as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sterling
Renters in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.2% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Sterling is about as common as it is nationally: 37.0% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Colorado overall (33.8%). Among homeowners, 49.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Sterling: 6.4% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Colorado as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Sterling is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the center. Only five of the 133 Colorado cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $565 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $645 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $844 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,022 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$457 | +$912 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sterling pays $1,022 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $457 a month since 2006–10, up 81%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only seven of the 133 Colorado cities with 5,000+ people have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sterling
Bachelor's degrees in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sterling: 19.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Only 11 of the 133 Colorado cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.2% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.0% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sterling is close to the national rate: 88.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Colorado overall (92.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.2%, unemployment in Sterling is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sterling compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | 2.38 | 38.9 | 9.4% | 37.0% | 6.4% | 1964 | $1,022 | 19.2% | 88.2% | 5.2% |
| Atwood | 2.50 | 42.0 | 7.1% | 23.2% | 7.0% | 1968 | $1,111 | 22.1% | 90.9% | 1.6% |
| Iliff | 2.12 | 46.4 | 9.1% | 15.2% | 15.4% | 1971 | $942 | 18.3% | 91.9% | 2.4% |
| Merino | 2.56 | 38.5 | 8.7% | 23.1% | 7.4% | 1962 | $1,289 | 21.6% | 94.5% | 2.8% |
| Willard | 2.54 | 39.0 | 9.0% | 23.0% | 8.1% | 1960 | $1,299 | 20.8% | 95.1% | 2.9% |
| Padroni | 2.13 | 47.8 | 9.0% | 17.3% | 14.0% | 1967 | $988 | 20.7% | 94.0% | 2.9% |
| Messex | 2.68 | 38.8 | 5.8% | 22.6% | 5.1% | 1976 | $1,139 | 27.1% | 88.0% | 1.2% |
| Fleming | 2.53 | 38.7 | 4.7% | 22.5% | 5.4% | 1958 | $951 | 11.7% | 82.2% | 1.8% |
| Proctor | 2.07 | 51.7 | 4.4% | 20.1% | 5.9% | 1950 | $850 | 24.8% | 94.0% | 4.5% |
| Union | 2.61 | 43.5 | 4.3% | 19.2% | 6.3% | 1979 | $1,106 | 26.5% | 87.6% | 2.3% |
| Stoneham | 2.36 | 51.0 | 3.1% | 19.2% | 14.4% | 1945 | $873 | 25.3% | 91.6% | 9.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Brockport, NY · Three Lakes, FL · Three Rivers, MI · Tillmans Corner, AL · Tiverton, RI · Tobyhanna, PA · Trabuco Canyon, CA · Trenton, OH · Troutdale, OR · Uniontown, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sterling. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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