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COUNTY

Sterling County

Texas · 1,349 residents (2025 est.) · 923.449 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#15Lowest poverty rateof 3,1444.3%#98Youngest by median ageof 3,14432.1
The short version

Sterling County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,954. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $147,000. At a median age of 32.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Poverty is rare here, at 4.3% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,468
+5%since 2000
from 1,393 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2 / sq mi
+32%since 2009
from 1 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
32.1
−15%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,349 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K1K2K1990201020202024Sterling County
20241K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 58%(118)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.4%(124)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1415.1%(221)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.8%(115)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.6%(53)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.1%(192)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(182)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.4%(138)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 646.5%(95)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 745.9%(86)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849%(132)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.8%(12)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,954
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,129 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,196
+72%since 2000
from $16,972 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.9%
+19.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.3%
−12.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.412
−10%since 2010
from 0.459 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing27.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing14.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction12.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Information4.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade1.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$147,000
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$952
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $392 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 75.6% in 2000
22.3% rent
Vacancy rate
23.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
7.4%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.9%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+49%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic68.6%(955)
Black0.1%(1)
Hispanic / Latino31%(432)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic62.8%(922)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino35.7%(524)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other1.2%(18)
Diversity Score
60
+8%since 2009
from 55 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican34.3%(504)
Spaniard0.6%(9)
Cuban0.4%(6)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(2)
Ancestry
English19.8%(291)
Irish18.3%(268)
German8.7%(127)
American6%(88)
Norwegian0.7%(10)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.5%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.0%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 70.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.4 min
+23%since 2000
from 19.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 78.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% 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
0.0%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2011
from 0.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 55.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.0%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Foreign born
11.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
1.9%
−40.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 11.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
26.4%
−49.1 ptssince 2013
from 75.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.0%
+21.3 ptssince 2017
from 69.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
70.4%
−4.6 ptssince 2016
from 74.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
29.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2016
from 25.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.1%(130)
Married64%(286)
Widowed1.6%(7)
Divorced5.4%(24)
Women 15+
Never married16.7%(93)
Married56.3%(314)
Widowed6.3%(35)
Divorced20.8%(116)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sterling County

Lake and Peninsula
Pop 1,357
Sheridan County
Pop 1,296
Wallace County
Pop 1,441
Campbell County
Pop 1,377
Places similar to Sterling County
Head to head

Compare Sterling County to nearby counties

STERLING COUNTY VS
Coke County
Income$43,333−33%
Home value$117,900−20%
Population3,412+153%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING COUNTY VS
Glasscock County
Income$101,250+56%
Home value$245,200+67%
Population1,128−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING COUNTY VS
Mitchell County
Income$60,550−7%
Home value$85,800−42%
Population8,947+563%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING COUNTY VS
Irion County
Income$70,357+8%
Home value$204,400+39%
Population1,463+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling County, Texas?

Sterling County, Texas has about 1,468 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling County, Texas?

The typical household in Sterling County, Texas earns about $64,954 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling County, Texas expensive?

In Sterling County, Texas, the median home is worth about $147,000, and the typical rent is about $952 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling County, Texas?

About 24.5% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling County, Texas?

About 4.3% of people in Sterling County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling County, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling County, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 30 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

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1 census tract
Census Tract 9501
1 ZIP code
ZIP 76951
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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