Population 141 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sterling
Household size in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.12 | 2.72 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.98 | 2.78 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.76 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.78 | 2.79 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.34 | +0.07 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Sterling holds 2.78 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Idaho. Household size has dropped from 3.12 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 35.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.7 | 36.6 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.1 | 37.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 38.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Sterling skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 10.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sterling: 6.2% of households, against 11.6% 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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 30.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 27.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sterling is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 55.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Sterling: just 3.2% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Housing in Sterling leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $534 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $672 | $820 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $812 | $941 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $816 | $1,407 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$282 | +$641 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sterling costs $816 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 22.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 25.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 27.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.5% | 31.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sterling: 17.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.4% | 88.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.2% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.7% | 92.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Sterling have finished high school as nationally: 90.7%, against 89.3%.
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 | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.0% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −3.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sterling has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.78 | 42.0 | 6.2% | 20.3% | 3.2% | 1975 | $816 | 17.5% | 90.7% | 1.8% |
| Springfield | 2.90 | 42.3 | 8.8% | 22.0% | 12.1% | 1976 | $774 | 19.7% | 93.2% | 0.9% |
| Aberdeen | 3.22 | 32.2 | 8.4% | 20.3% | 7.1% | 1965 | $792 | 12.5% | 72.9% | 5.5% |
| Pingree | 3.00 | 38.4 | 12.5% | 24.1% | 17.5% | 1977 | $889 | 21.1% | 95.1% | 0.5% |
| Arbon Valley | 2.67 | 48.3 | 5.9% | 4.6% | 12.8% | 1986 | $1,208 | 11.2% | 88.8% | 8.1% |
| Gibson | 3.06 | 35.8 | 18.3% | 15.3% | 13.5% | 1979 | $610 | 14.5% | 83.5% | 13.0% |
| Rockford | 3.02 | 34.0 | 11.9% | 20.7% | 12.7% | 1979 | $1,032 | 23.6% | 94.2% | 1.0% |
| Thomas | 3.29 | 35.2 | 9.8% | 13.0% | 10.9% | 1982 | $897 | 28.7% | 91.6% | 2.0% |
| Fort Hall | 3.05 | 34.6 | 19.8% | 16.3% | 14.2% | 1980 | $722 | 14.5% | 83.5% | 13.3% |
| Chubbuck | 2.88 | 35.6 | 7.8% | 29.0% | 6.6% | 1992 | $1,067 | 25.8% | 95.2% | 3.6% |
| Taber | 3.04 | 35.2 | 8.9% | 13.6% | 18.8% | 1984 | $934 | 15.7% | 94.5% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sand Bay, WI · Lockport, KY · Locust Hill, MO · Lodge Corner, AR · Lone Star, AZ · Lone Tree, ND · Long Branch, IL · Lost Creek, WA · Lower Elk Creek, VA · Lucile, ID
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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