Population 2,863 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sterling
Household size in Sterling
| Period | Sterling | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Sterling is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.52, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.0 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.3 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 29.3 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.1 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
Sterling is young: half of its residents are under 29.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples.
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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sterling: 7.9% 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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.8% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.7% of households in Sterling rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than half of owners (54.7%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Sterling: 12.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Sterling is a place of older homes: half were built before 1962, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $384 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $473 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $570 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $777 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$393 | +$390 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sterling pays $777 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 24.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.7% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Sterling (36.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to 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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.3% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Sterling: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 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 | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Sterling has been strong: just 2.4% 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 | 2.38 | 29.3 | 7.9% | 21.7% | 12.8% | 1962 | $777 | 36.7% | 94.8% | 2.4% |
| Alden | 2.47 | 46.4 | 5.8% | 9.1% | 15.4% | 1957 | $890 | 29.8% | 93.5% | 1.3% |
| Nickerson | 2.59 | 38.7 | 11.2% | 23.4% | 12.6% | 1943 | $907 | 22.2% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
| Lyons | 2.38 | 41.7 | 5.6% | 26.7% | 13.9% | 1955 | $718 | 21.7% | 85.5% | 6.8% |
| Raymond | 2.46 | 48.3 | 5.7% | 7.3% | 14.3% | 1960 | $940 | 31.7% | 92.8% | 0.9% |
| Chase | 2.48 | 38.2 | 7.9% | 20.2% | 18.4% | 1953 | $740 | 18.2% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
| Mitchell | 2.48 | 45.7 | 2.4% | 17.7% | 11.5% | 1952 | $999 | 21.3% | 95.1% | 0.7% |
| Little River | 2.48 | 45.5 | 2.1% | 18.5% | 11.2% | 1952 | $1,003 | 20.5% | 95.3% | 0.7% |
| Silica | 2.51 | 41.9 | 7.7% | 14.2% | 19.0% | 1956 | $766 | 26.6% | 94.0% | 2.1% |
| Medora | 2.48 | 53.2 | 6.4% | 17.4% | 9.0% | 1971 | $1,057 | 28.7% | 90.7% | 0.6% |
| Windom | 2.80 | 42.5 | 3.2% | 12.6% | 8.3% | 1977 | $1,074 | 28.3% | 89.7% | 0.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bagley, MN · Weston, MO · Smithton, PA · Fairchance, PA · Elmore, OH · Dillonvale, OH · Dallas Center, IA · Crosslake, MN · Crosby, MN · Crawford, TX
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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