Sterling is a city located in Rice County Kansas. Sterling has a 2024 population of 2,285. Sterling is currently growing at a rate of 0.44% annually and its population has increased by 1.78% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,245 in 2020.
The average household income in Sterling is $64,898 with a poverty rate of 6.4%. The median age in Sterling is 26.4 years: 23.2 years for males, and 29.8 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Sterling was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,250 | 89.75% |
| Two or more races | 115 | 4.59% |
| Black or African American | 105 | 4.19% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 28 | 1.12% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 2 | 0.08% |
| Other race | 0 | 0% |
White
Two or more races
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Native American
Asian
Other race
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 799 | 2.48 | 73.6 | 26.4 |
| Married | 378 | 3.64 | 92.1 | 7.9 |
| Non Family | 354 | 1.06 | 52.3 | 47.7 |
| Female | 58 | 3.55 | 79.3 | 20.7 |
| Male | 9 | 2.56 | 100 | 0 |
3.51
Average Family Size
2.48
Average Household Size
73.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 20 | 1.57% |
| Associates Degree | 90 | 7.05% |
| Bachelors Degree | 196 | 15.35% |
| Graduate Degree | 252 | 19.73% |
| High School Graduate | 378 | 29.6% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 8 | 0.63% |
| Some College | 333 | 26.08% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 1,225 | 1,197 | 415 |
| 2+ Races | 34 | 34 | 19 |
| Hispanic | 28 | 28 | 25 |
| Native American | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Asian | 2 | 2 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among hispanic people with a rate of 89.29%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $32,321 | $0 | $35,313 |
| Graduate Degree | $47,292 | $50,625 | $45,938 |
| High School Graduate | $38,438 | $46,563 | $21,667 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $43,750 | $43,750 | $0 |
| Overall | $38,529 | $48,032 | $31,636 |
| Some College | $36,094 | $52,829 | $31,413 |
$38,529
Average Earnings
$48,032
Average Male
$31,636
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
97.78% of Sterling residents speak only English, while 2.22% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 1.09% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 1,784 | 125 | 7.01% |
6.4%
Overall Poverty Rate
7.47%
Male Poverty Rate
5.33%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Sterling is White, with 7.01% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Sterling is White, with 7.01% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.72%. Among those working part-time, it was 10.92%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 14.55%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 28.57% |
| High School | 12.02% |
| Some College | 6.51% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 1.4% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Male Unemployed | 100% |
| Male Employed | 6.12% |
| Female Employed | 5.05% |
| Female Unemployed | 0% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $69,861 | $83,609 |
| Households | $49,323 | $64,898 |
| Married Families | $75,455 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $38,750 | $37,844 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
43.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
45.2%
Male Marriage Rate
41.9%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
117
Number of Veterans
102
Male Veterans
15
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 32 |
| Vietnam | 29 |
| First Gulf War | 14 |
| Korea | 9 |
| World War II | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 75+ | 46 |
| 65 to 74 | 28 |
| 35 to 54 | 23 |
| 18 to 34 | 15 |
| 55 to 64 | 5 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 100 | 5.81% |
| Black | 15 | 14.29% |
| Native American | 2 | 28.57% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
0%
Veteran Poverty Rate
16.47%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
57.8%
Labor Force Participation
56.5%
Employment Rate
2%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
60.59%
Born in Sterling
97.09%
Native Born
2.91%
Foreign Born
1.95%
Non Citizen
0.96%
Naturalized
97.09% of Sterling residents were born in the United States, with 60.59% having been born in Kansas. 1.95% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Europe.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 2,335 | 10 | 0.43% |
| 2028 | 2,325 | 10 | 0.43% |
| 2027 | 2,315 | 10 | 0.43% |
| 2026 | 2,305 | 10 | 0.44% |
| 2025 | 2,295 | 10 | 0.44% |
| 2024 | 2,285 | 10 | 0.44% |
| 2023 | 2,275 | 4 | 0.18% |
| 2022 | 2,271 | 25 | 1.11% |
| 2021 | 2,246 | 1 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 2,245 | 40 | 1.81% |
| 2019 | 2,205 | 9 | 0.41% |
| 2018 | 2,196 | -17 | -0.77% |
| 2017 | 2,213 | -37 | -1.64% |
| 2016 | 2,250 | -33 | -1.45% |
| 2015 | 2,283 | -13 | -0.57% |
| 2014 | 2,296 | 0 | 0% |
| 2013 | 2,296 | -6 | -0.26% |
| 2012 | 2,302 | -26 | -1.12% |
| 2011 | 2,328 | -16 | -0.68% |
| 2010 | 2,344 | 0 | 0% |