Sterling

County:: Rice County
County Seat:: No
Area (mi²):: 1.865
State:: Kansas

Sterling is a city located in Rice County, Kansas. Sterling has a 2025 population of 2,295. Sterling is currently growing at a rate of 0.44% annually and its population has increased by 2.23% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,245 in 2020.

The average household income in Sterling is $67,320 with a poverty rate of 4.93%. The median age in Sterling is 27.7 years: 24.7 years for males, and 32.2 years for females.

Demographics

The racial composition of Sterling includes 89.02% White, 4.17% Black or African American, and smaller percentages for Native American, Asian, other race, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

White

Two or more races

Black or African American

Native American

Asian

Other race

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Race	Population	Percentage (of total)
White	2,133	89.02%
Two or more races	130	5.43%
Black or African American	100	4.17%
Native American	24	1%
Asian	6	0.25%
Other race	3	0.13%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	0	0%

Sterling Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

Never Married

Economics and Income Statistics

Sterling's average per capita income is $38,682. Household income levels show a median of $51,304. The poverty rate stands at 4.93%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.

Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.

Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.

Name	Median	Mean
Families	$78,417	$91,573
Married Families	$76,250	-
Households	$51,304	$67,320
Non Families	$38,409	$37,337

$38,682

Average Income

$51,304

Median Household Income

4.93%

Poverty Rate