CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Sterling

Kansas · 2,328 residents · 1.865 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Sterling has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $36,192. Population has declined 12% since 2000. Median home value is $74,400. At a median age of 29.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 27% less than the Kansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 29.5
US median: 37.2
More educated
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,328
−12%since 2000
from 2,642 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,248 / sq mi
−12%since 2000
from 1,417 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
29.5
+27%since 2000
from 23.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Sterling
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,192
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,282 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,311
+31%since 2000
from $13,229 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
13.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
14.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.384
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information15.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 7%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing5.3%
US avg: 3.1%
Retail trade5%
US avg: 10.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.4%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$74,400
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$441
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $248 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
42.0%
−31.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.3% in 2000
27.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
20.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 37.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.1
+24%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(2,496)
Black1.5%(40)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(46)
Asian0.7%(18)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.7%(257)
2010
White, non-Hispanic90.4%(2,105)
Black2.3%(53)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(100)
Asian0.6%(14)
Other1.5%(34)
Diversity Score20.5%(477)
Diversity Score
20
+111%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
93.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 87.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
8.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.4 min
+47%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
77.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.1%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
6.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
18.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
30.6%
−31.7 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
Female
49.7%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
Foreign born
4.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.1%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sterling

Pine Air
Pop 2,258
Chiefland
Pop 2,456
Blountstown
Pop 2,272
Long Neck
Pop 2,161
Places similar to Sterling
Head to head

Compare Sterling to nearby cities

STERLING VS
Hutchinson
Income$58,687+62%
Home value$125,000+68%
Population39,595+1619%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
McPherson
Income$77,529+114%
Home value$211,700+185%
Population13,918+504%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Great Bend
Income$54,139+50%
Home value$133,900+80%
Population14,266+519%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Newton
Income$68,885+90%
Home value$156,400+110%
Population18,353+697%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, Kansas?

Sterling, Kansas has about 2,328 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, Kansas?

The typical household in Sterling, Kansas earns about $36,192 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, Kansas expensive?

In Sterling, Kansas, the median home is worth about $74,400, and the typical rent is about $441 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, Kansas?

About 30.7% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, Kansas?

About 14.4% of people in Sterling, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, Kansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 222 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Kansas
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 →