CensusEasy
CITY

Sterling

Oklahoma · 674 residents (2025 est.) · 0.822 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Lawton metro area
Compare
The short version

Sterling has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,981. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $131,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
751
−1%since 2000
from 762 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
914 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 927 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+11%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:674 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5706316927528131990201020202024Sterling
2024751
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,981
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,583 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,630
+188%since 2000
from $12,707 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.9%
+34.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 20.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
+23%since 2010
from 0.387 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance21.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade16.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade16.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services12.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Information7.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$131,900
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$604
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $293 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.1%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 68.4% in 2000
25.9% rent
Vacancy rate
10.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
4.5%
−20.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.7%
+49.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+18%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
55
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.9%(685)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(17)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.9%(45)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88%(661)
Black3.6%(27)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(24)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.2%(39)
Diversity Score27.5%(207)
Diversity Score
28
+366%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+17.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.2 min
+27%since 2000
from 21.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
91.5%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.0%
−21.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.7%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 4.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
41.9%
−25.9 ptssince 2011
from 67.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.5%
−37.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.1%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Female
54.9%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
14.7%
−29.4 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
33.4%
+10.6 ptssince 2012
from 22.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−67.9 ptssince 2013
from 78.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.1%
+10.3 ptssince 2017
from 66.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2016
from 95.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 4.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sterling

Garden Grove
Pop 637
Whitfield CDP (Santa Rosa County)
Pop 599
Cedar Key
Pop 744
Greenville
Pop 778
Places similar to Sterling
Head to head

Compare Sterling to nearby cities

STERLING VS
Lawton
Income$54,433−20%
Home value$142,100+8%
Population90,503+13328%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Duncan
Income$58,054−15%
Home value$131,500same
Population23,238+3348%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Chickasha
Income$54,111−20%
Home value$130,300−1%
Population17,313+2469%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Blanchard
Income$91,473+35%
Home value$295,000+124%
Population10,013+1386%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, Oklahoma?

Sterling, Oklahoma has about 751 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, Oklahoma?

The typical household in Sterling, Oklahoma earns about $67,981 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, Oklahoma expensive?

In Sterling, Oklahoma, the median home is worth about $131,900, and the typical rent is about $604 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, Oklahoma?

About 11.9% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, Oklahoma hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, Oklahoma?

About 14.0% of people in Sterling, Oklahoma live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, Oklahoma grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, Oklahoma has grown since 1990. The population has added about 68 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Oklahoma
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 →