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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Sterling Micro

Sterling, CO · 1 counties · 20,654 residents (2025 est.) · 1,838.599 sq mi
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The short version

Sterling has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,829. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $245,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,892
+2%since 2000
from 20,504 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
11 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 11 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.2
+7%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,654 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K19K20K22K23K1990201020202024Sterling
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,829
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,724 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,922
+85%since 2000
from $16,721 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.0%
+13.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.463
+10%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade4.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing3.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$245,300
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,013
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $451 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 69.9% in 2000
33.7% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.1%
+10.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
+80%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(17,310)
Black2%(411)
Hispanic / Latino11.9%(2,439)
Asian0.4%(77)
Other0%
Diversity Score31.7%(6,495)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.5%(15,779)
Black3.6%(758)
Hispanic / Latino17.2%(3,596)
Asian0.6%(127)
Other3%(632)
Diversity Score49.7%(10,385)
Segregation Score23.6%(4,941)
Diversity Score
50
+57%since 2000
from 32 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
24
+9%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.9%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.4 min
+51%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 75.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.8%
−10.4 ptssince 2011
from 67.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.2%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
Female
44.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−46.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 13.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−74.3 ptssince 2013
from 81.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.4%
+8.2 ptssince 2017
from 77.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 6.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

SterlingCENTRAL13,054
What's inside

1 component county

Logan CountyCENTRAL20,654
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Sterling

Arkadelphia
Pop 20,938
Ruidoso
Pop 19,844
Raymondville
Pop 19,971
Elk City
Pop 22,159
Places similar to Sterling
Head to head

Compare Sterling side by side

STERLING VS
Arkadelphia
Income$52,034same
Home value$155,000−37%
Population20,938+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Ruidoso
Income$53,303+3%
Home value$233,200−5%
Population19,844−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Raymondville
Income$54,180+5%
Home value$73,600−70%
Population19,971−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Elk City
Income$53,328+3%
Home value$143,500−42%
Population22,159+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, CO?

Sterling, CO has about 20,892 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, CO?

The typical household in Sterling, CO earns about $51,829 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, CO expensive?

In Sterling, CO, the median home is worth about $245,300, and the typical rent is about $1,013 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, CO?

About 20.1% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, CO hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, CO?

About 15.8% of people in Sterling, CO live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, CO grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, CO has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,325 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →