Sterling, CO
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Sterling, Colorado Summary

Life in Sterling research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Sterling over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Sterling:

  • The population in Sterling is 13,273.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $245,507.

  • The median income in Sterling is $44,242.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 94 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Sterling is $1,052.

  • The unemployment rate in Sterling is 7.6%.

  • The poverty rate in Sterling is 15.2%.

  • The average high in Sterling is 64.5° and the average low is 35.2°.

Sterling SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
6
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
10

Sterling, CO Crime Report

Crime in Sterling summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Sterling. Key points include:

  • There were 425 total crimes in Sterling in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Sterling is 3,318.8 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Sterling is 398.3 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Sterling is 2,920.5 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Sterling is 56.60% above the national average.

425
Total Crimes
56.60%
Above National Average

Crime In Sterling Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Sterling
/ 100k People
Colorado
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 425 3,318.8 3,069.1 2,119.2
Violent Crime 51 398.3 476.3 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 4.5 5.0
Robbery 1 7.8 63.0 61.0
Aggravated Assault 46 359.2 350.5 256.0
Property Crime 374 2,920.5 2,592.8 1,760.0
Burglary 53 413.9 348.0 229.0
Larceny 296 2,311.4 1,754.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 25 195.2 490.6 259.0

Sterling, CO Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Sterling summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Sterling. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Colorado. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 94 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $245,507.

  • The median income in Sterling is $44,242.

94
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Sterling Comparison Table

Living Expense Sterling Colorado National Average
Overall 94 111 100
Services 101 102 100
Groceries 104 103 100
Health 104 101 100
Housing 81 134 100
Transportation 99 107 100
Utilities 85 89 100

Sterling, CO Weather

  • The average high in Sterling is 64.5° and the average low is 35.2°.

  • There are 37.7 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 16.6 inches of precipitation each year with 29.4 inches of snow.

StatSterling
Average Annual High64.5
Average Annual Low35.2
Annual Precipitation Days37.7
Average Annual Precipitation16.6
Average Annual Snowfall29.4
64.5°
Average High
37.7
Days of Rain

Sterling, CO Photos

Sterling Co Main Street
Source: Public Domain
Overland Trail Museum
Source: Wikipedia User Jeffrey Beall | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Sterling in Colorado

Locations Around Sterling

Map Of Sterling, CO

Best Places Around Sterling

1

Sidney, NE
Population 6,396

2

Fort Morgan, CO
Population 11,521

Sterling Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Sterling

The current population in Sterling is 13,273. The population has decreased -7.8% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 13,273 -1.4%
2022 13,466 -3.6%
2021 13,976 -3.1%
2020 14,421 -0.4%
2019 14,478 5.1%
2018 13,775 -1.3%
2017 13,961 -0.1%
2016 13,976 -0.5%
2015 14,046 -4.5%
2014 14,709 -0.1%
2013 14,718 0.5%
2012 14,642 0.8%
2011 14,533 1.0%
2010 14,393 -

Race / Ethnicity in Sterling

White
70.6% (9,369)
African American
2.3% (311)
American Indian
0.8% (103)
Asian
0.4% (51)
Hawaiian
2.4% (317)
Other
0.2% (28)
Two Or More
2.4% (324)
Hispanic
20.9% (2,770)

Sterling is:

  • 70.6% White with 9,369 White residents.

  • 2.3% African American with 311 African American residents.

  • 0.8% American Indian with 103 American Indian residents.

  • 0.4% Asian with 51 Asian residents.

  • 2.4% Hawaiian with 317 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 28 Other residents.

  • 2.4% Two Or More with 324 Two Or More residents.

  • 20.9% Hispanic with 2,770 Hispanic residents.

Race Sterling CO USA
White 70.6% 65.7% 58.2%
African American 2.3% 3.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.8% 0.4% 0.5%
Asian 0.4% 3.2% 5.7%
Hawaiian 2.4% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 2.4% 4.2% 3.9%
Hispanic 20.9% 22.2% 19.0%

Gender in Sterling

Female
44.5% (5,912)
Male
55.5% (7,360)
  • Sterling is 44.5% female with 5,912 female residents.

  • Sterling is 55.5% male with 7,360 male residents.

Gender Sterling CO USA
Female 44.5% 49.4% 50.5%
Male 55.5% 50.6% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Sterling for adults over 25

  • 4.0% of adults in Sterling completed < 9th grade.

  • 11.0% of adults in Sterling completed 9-12th grade.

  • 43.0% of adults in Sterling completed high school / ged.

  • 19.0% of adults in Sterling completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Sterling completed associate's degree.

  • 8.0% of adults in Sterling completed bachelor's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Sterling completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Sterling completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Sterling completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
4.0% (530)
9-12th Grade
11.0% (1,460)
High School / GED
43.0% (5,707)
Some College
19.0% (2,521)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (1,194)
Bachelor's Degree
8.0% (1,061)
Master's Degree
5.0% (663)
Professional Degree
1.0% (132)
Doctorate Degree
0.0% (0)
Education Sterling CO USA
< 9th Grade 4.0% 2.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 11.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 43.0% 20.0% 26.0%
Some College 19.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 8.0% 28.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 5.0% 13.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Sterling, Colorado

  • 6.8% of households in Sterling earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.1% of households in Sterling earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 11.7% of households in Sterling earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 10.3% of households in Sterling earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 24.5% of households in Sterling earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 14.0% of households in Sterling earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.3% of households in Sterling earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 9.9% of households in Sterling earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 5.5% of households in Sterling earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 0.9% of households in Sterling earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
6.8% (89,606)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.1% (53,870)
$15,000 to $24,999
11.7% (155,478)
$25,000 to $34,999
10.3% (137,343)
$35,000 to $49,999
24.5% (325,357)
$50,000 to $74,999
14.0% (186,414)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.3% (163,212)
$100,000 to $149,999
9.9% (131,209)
$150,000 to $199,999
5.5% (73,338)
$200,000 or more
0.9% (11,467)
Income Sterling CO USA
Less than $10,000 6.8% 3.9% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.1% 2.6% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 11.7% 5.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 10.3% 5.3% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 24.5% 8.9% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 14.0% 15.0% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.3% 13.0% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 9.9% 19.3% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 5.5% 11.3% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 0.9% 15.8% 12.6%

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