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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Sterling Micro

Sterling, CO · 1 counties · 22,709 residents · 1,838.599 sq mi
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The short version

Sterling has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $40,961. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $119,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
18% 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
22,709
+11%since 2000
from 20,504 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
12 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 11 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
38.4
+5%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K19K20K22K23K1990201020202024Sterling
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55.2%(1,178)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95.4%(1,224)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 145.8%(1,326)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 197.5%(1,695)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247.4%(1,670)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3414.4%(3,266)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4412.8%(2,896)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5415.1%(3,438)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6411.9%(2,695)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 747.1%(1,619)
US avg: 7%
75 to 844.9%(1,109)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over2.6%(593)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,961
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,724 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,564
+35%since 2000
from $16,721 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
24.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
12.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information14.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction8%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical6.5%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 7%
Retail trade4%
US avg: 10.9%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Manufacturing1.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,900
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,200 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$603
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $451 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
41.5%
−28.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.9% in 2000
32.1% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
24.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.5%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.9
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2010
White, non-Hispanic78.2%(17,754)
Black3.9%(881)
Hispanic / Latino15.6%(3,551)
Asian0.5%(117)
Other1.6%(353)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican12.1%(2,705)
Spaniard0.7%(147)
Bolivian0.3%(67)
Colombian0.3%(62)
Honduran0.1%(28)
Puerto Rican0.1%(17)
Ancestry
German40.8%(9,093)
Irish11.1%(2,467)
English10.6%(2,361)
American4.3%(963)
Italian3.7%(824)
French3.1%(693)
Swedish2.9%(640)
Scotch-Irish2.6%(572)
Norwegian2.5%(554)
Scottish2%(452)
Russian1.8%(390)
Danish1.7%(374)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.7%(374)
Czech1.4%(317)
Polish1.3%(280)
Welsh1.2%(263)
Canadian0.9%(201)
British0.6%(128)
Swiss0.1%(33)
Arab0.1%(32)
Lebanese0.1%(32)
Finnish0.1%(22)
Australian0.1%(18)
Hungarian0.1%(18)
Belgian0.1%(17)
Greek0%(6)
Slovak0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
86.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.1 min
+48%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
75.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 75.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
11.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
1.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
17.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
26.1%
−32.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
Female
46.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
Foreign born
4.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
13.8%
−40.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married39.4%(3,879)
Married47.7%(4,699)
Widowed2.7%(266)
Divorced10.2%(1,009)
Women 15+
Never married25.1%(1,989)
Married49.2%(3,900)
Widowed10.2%(809)
Divorced15.5%(1,233)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

SterlingCENTRAL13,054Fleming421Merino276Iliff246Peetz202Crook125Atwood62Padroni7
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$52,034+27%
Home value$155,000+29%
Population20,938+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Ruidoso
Income$53,303+30%
Home value$233,200+94%
Population19,844−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Raymondville
Income$54,180+32%
Home value$73,600−39%
Population19,971−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Elk City
Income$53,328+30%
Home value$143,500+20%
Population22,159+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, CO?

Sterling, CO has about 22,709 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, CO?

The typical household in Sterling, CO earns about $40,961 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 $119,900, and the typical rent is about $603 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, CO?

About 18.0% 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 12.8% 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 5,142 residents, a change of about 29 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 →