CensusEasy
CITY

Sterling

Colorado · 13,054 residents (2025 est.) · 7.619 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Sterling micropolitan area
Compare
Notable rankings
#234Shortest commutesof 6,82614.7#301Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-7.1%
The short version

Sterling has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $43,283. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $217,400. Households here earn about 55% less than the Colorado median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,172
+16%since 2000
from 11,360 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,729 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 1,491 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.7
+8%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,054 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K11K13K14K15K1990201020202024Sterling
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,283
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,337 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,573
+48%since 2000
from $15,287 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.425
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction3.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$217,400
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,031
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $452 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.9%
−7.6 ptssince 2000
from 63.5% in 2000
44.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.4%
+15.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.0
+81%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.3%(9,463)
Black0.7%(83)
Hispanic / Latino14.2%(1,613)
Asian0.4%(43)
Other0%
Diversity Score33.2%(3,771)
2024
White, non-Hispanic70.2%(9,252)
Black4.3%(560)
Hispanic / Latino21.2%(2,793)
Asian0.8%(105)
Other3.5%(462)
Diversity Score57.3%(7,550)
Diversity Score
57
+73%since 2000
from 33 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 81.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.7 min
+40%since 2000
from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 74.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.4%
−11.4 ptssince 2011
from 64.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.9%
−24.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
57.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
Female
42.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
Foreign born
6.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−50.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−70.8 ptssince 2013
from 77.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.0%
+9.1 ptssince 2017
from 73.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2016
from 92.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 7.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sterling

Florida City
Pop 13,576
New Port Richey East
Pop 11,939
Hernando
Pop 9,299
Brownsville
Pop 16,936
Places similar to Sterling
Head to head

Compare Sterling to nearby cities

STERLING VS
Fort Morgan
Income$64,158+48%
Home value$313,400+44%
Population11,841−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Evans
Income$75,563+75%
Home value$351,000+61%
Population22,500+72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Greeley
Income$69,881+61%
Home value$402,500+85%
Population115,073+782%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Gering
Income$75,093+73%
Home value$186,500−14%
Population8,535−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, Colorado?

Sterling, Colorado has about 13,172 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, Colorado?

The typical household in Sterling, Colorado earns about $43,283 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, Colorado expensive?

In Sterling, Colorado, the median home is worth about $217,400, and the typical rent is about $1,031 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, Colorado?

About 15.7% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, Colorado hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, Colorado?

About 19.0% of people in Sterling, Colorado live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, Colorado grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, Colorado has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,806 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Colorado
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Sterling with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →