Population 19,223 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sterling Ridge
Household size in Sterling Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.25 | 2.84 | 2.96 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.38 | 2.82 | 3.00 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.20 | 2.75 | 2.98 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.97 | 2.84 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.28 | −0.00 | −0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Sterling Ridge is a place of big households: 2.97 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 3.25 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.6 | 37.9 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.2 | 39.1 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.4 | 40.4 | 35.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.3 | 40.6 | 36.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.7 | +2.7 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
At 40.3, the median age in Sterling Ridge is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 33.6, as it has 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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 7.2% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 8.4% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 7.2% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 5.9% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.9% of households in Sterling Ridge, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Ridge
Renters in Sterling Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 23.4% | 36.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 28.5% | 38.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.0% | 33.5% | 39.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 30.6% | 38.8% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +7.2 pts | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sterling Ridge is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (32.7%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 8.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 7.8% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 7.4% | 10.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 7.2% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 6.9% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.6% of the housing in Sterling Ridge, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 5.9 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2004 | 1996 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2005 | 1996 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2006 | 1998 | 1988 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2009 | 2000 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
Sterling Ridge has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2009, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 2004 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,596 | $1,330 | $1,018 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,359 | $1,430 | $1,103 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,587 | $1,647 | $1,300 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,956 | $2,142 | $1,649 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$360 | +$812 | +$631 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sterling Ridge pays $1,956 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in The Woodlands as a whole ($2,142). Rents are up $360 a month from 2006–10, a 23% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 40.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Ridge
Bachelor's degrees in Sterling Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.9% | 55.1% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 67.4% | 57.3% | 30.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.6% | 61.1% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 67.5% | 66.6% | 35.9% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +11.6 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Sterling Ridge is highly educated: about two-thirds of adults 25 and older (67.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The picture is much the same across The Woodlands. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged down 1.3 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.5% | 96.0% | 80.9% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.7% | 95.9% | 81.9% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.2% | 97.7% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 97.1% | 84.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +1.1 pts | +3.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Sterling Ridge: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of The Woodlands. The share with a diploma has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Ridge
| Period | Sterling Ridge | The Woodlands | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 4.2% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 4.9% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 3.8% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 4.9% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +0.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Sterling Ridge than nationally: unemployment was 4.7%, against 5.4%. That is in line with the rest of The Woodlands. 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 Ridge compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Ridge | 2.97 | 40.3 | 3.9% | 21.0% | 15.6% | 2009 | $1,956 | 67.5% | 95.9% | 4.7% |
| Indian Springs | 3.04 | 43.1 | 4.2% | 14.5% | 6.7% | 1998 | $2,751 | 73.3% | 99.0% | 4.1% |
| Lake Windcrest | 2.85 | 37.2 | 16.2% | 25.4% | 6.9% | 2007 | $1,773 | 55.7% | 95.2% | 3.6% |
| Cochran's Crossing | 2.94 | 43.4 | 4.8% | 11.1% | 2.7% | 1993 | $2,581 | 68.5% | 95.9% | 5.6% |
| Alden Bridge | 2.75 | 40.7 | 6.0% | 33.3% | 7.4% | 2001 | $1,808 | 67.2% | 98.1% | 5.2% |
| Creekside Park | 3.30 | 36.1 | 5.7% | 18.2% | 7.6% | 2014 | $2,564 | 76.3% | 95.4% | 3.3% |
| Panther Creek | 2.61 | 46.8 | 7.4% | 33.4% | 5.3% | 1989 | $1,950 | 56.7% | 96.9% | 5.4% |
| Grogan's Mill | 2.03 | 37.0 | 8.0% | 71.2% | 8.5% | 1994 | $1,613 | 51.1% | 97.6% | 3.8% |
| Harper's Landing | 3.01 | 39.4 | 4.0% | 14.2% | 0.7% | 2005 | $2,369 | 58.3% | 96.2% | 9.2% |
| Imperial Oaks | 2.77 | 41.6 | 12.2% | 19.8% | 4.6% | 1992 | $1,889 | 39.2% | 99.8% | 3.4% |
| Memorial Northwest | 3.11 | 38.9 | 6.9% | 5.0% | 3.2% | 1984 | $1,778 | 40.7% | 96.0% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Magnolia, Seattle, WA · South Berkeley, Berkeley, CA · Sherwood-Tualatin South, Tualatin, OR · North Sutton Area, Manhattan, NY · North Creek, Bothell, WA · North Cambridge, Cambridge, MA · Midway, Gulf Breeze, FL · Metzger, Tigard, OR · Merriam Park, St. Paul, MN · Melrose, Oakland, CA
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 Ridge. 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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