Population 416 · 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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.97 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
The average household in Sterling has 2.43 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65.
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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.7 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.3 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Sterling are younger than 40.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.2 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Sterling (9.9%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Washington.
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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.0% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sterling is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as 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
| Period | Sterling | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.8% of homes in Sterling are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing.
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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Sterling are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $860 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,040 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,103 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,560 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$700 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Sterling runs $1,560 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Washington as a whole ($1,875). The typical renter here spends 32.7% of household income on rent, just over 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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.4% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.8% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Sterling have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.8%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.1% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.0% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.9% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Sterling have finished high school as nationally: 90.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Washington as a whole (91.9%).
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 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Sterling than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 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 | 2.43 | 40.3 | 9.9% | 16.9% | 4.8% | 1981 | $1,560 | 22.8% | 90.1% | 4.0% |
| Burlington | 2.65 | 39.5 | 13.9% | 43.4% | 6.6% | 1987 | $1,620 | 20.1% | 90.6% | 5.6% |
| Clear Lake | 2.49 | 47.0 | 6.8% | 19.8% | 6.5% | 1982 | $827 | 18.6% | 93.7% | 3.2% |
| Sedro-Woolley | 2.53 | 40.0 | 12.8% | 29.6% | 5.1% | 1984 | $1,539 | 20.5% | 89.8% | 4.3% |
| Hoogdal | 2.63 | 40.8 | 10.5% | 13.4% | 2.5% | 1990 | $1,344 | 20.8% | 95.1% | 2.6% |
| Mount Vernon | 2.61 | 39.4 | 12.2% | 33.2% | 6.7% | 1983 | $1,652 | 28.9% | 89.4% | 5.2% |
| Bay View | 2.45 | 46.5 | 2.0% | 11.3% | 17.9% | 1992 | $1,968 | 39.9% | 96.1% | 2.5% |
| Prairie | 2.71 | 46.1 | 8.0% | 17.2% | 5.3% | 1987 | $1,440 | 20.4% | 93.3% | 3.4% |
| Bow | 2.62 | 51.5 | 5.9% | 12.0% | 16.9% | 1979 | $1,562 | 38.1% | 92.0% | 5.1% |
| Edison | 2.49 | 55.5 | 4.2% | 6.7% | 15.4% | 1983 | $1,530 | 38.3% | 89.5% | 3.9% |
| Big Lake | 2.23 | 51.8 | 10.4% | 24.4% | 6.7% | 1957 | $1,248 | 29.6% | 95.0% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Iron Junction, MN · Seldovia, AK · Seale, TX · Kincaid, WV · Kibbee, GA · Kiana, AK · Kenton, DE · Kedron, WV · Junction, IL · Jones Crossroads, AL
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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