Sterling, CO
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around Sterling to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in Sterling, Colorado

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. Here's a snapshot of Sterling based on the most recently available data.

13,172 Population
$244,758 Median home value
$43,283 Median income
100 Cost of living 0% vs US
$1,031 Median rent
7.8% Unemployment
Not sure Sterling fits? Try our place-match quiz → Planning a move? Find movers to Sterling, CO Get matched →

Sterling SnackAbility

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

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
Sterling
US

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
Worried about safety? Compare home security systems in Sterling Get matched →

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

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 100 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $244,758.

  • The median income in Sterling is $43,283.

100
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average
Sterling
US

Cost Of Living In Sterling Comparison Table

Living Expense Sterling Colorado National Average
Overall 100 114 100
Services 103 104 100
Groceries 108 107 100
Health 79 135 100
Housing 108 104 100
Transportation 112 107 100
Utilities 109 107 100
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Sterling Get matched →

Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 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

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

Sterling, CO Photos

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

Rankings & Articles For Sterling

Locations Around Sterling

Map Of Sterling, CO

Best Places Around Sterling

1

Sidney, NE
Population 6,419

$168,006-31% vs Sterling
2

Fort Morgan, CO
Population 11,605

$328,287+34% vs Sterling

Sterling Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Sterling

The current population in Sterling is 13,172. The population has decreased 8.5% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 13,172 -0.8%
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 70.2% (9,252)
African American 4.3% (560)
American Indian 0.7% (94)
Asian 0.8% (105)
Hawaiian 0.0% (0)
Other 0.4% (59)
Two Or More 2.3% (309)
Hispanic 21.2% (2,793)
See the full breakdown

Sterling is:

  • 70.2% White with 9,252 White residents.

  • 4.3% African American with 560 African American residents.

  • 0.7% American Indian with 94 American Indian residents.

  • 0.8% Asian with 105 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.4% Other with 59 Other residents.

  • 2.3% Two Or More with 309 Two Or More residents.

  • 21.2% Hispanic with 2,793 Hispanic residents.

Race Sterling CO USA
White 70.2% 64.8% 57.4%
African American 4.3% 3.8% 11.9%
American Indian 0.7% 0.4% 0.5%
Asian 0.8% 3.2% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.4% 0.5% 0.6%
Two Or More 2.3% 4.6% 4.3%
Hispanic 21.2% 22.5% 19.3%

Gender in Sterling

Female 42.7% (5,628)
Male 57.3% (7,544)
See the full breakdown
  • Sterling is 42.7% female with 5,628 female residents.

  • Sterling is 57.3% male with 7,544 male residents.

Gender Sterling CO USA
Female 42.7% 49.3% 50.5%
Male 57.3% 50.7% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Sterling for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 3.0% (395)
9-12th Grade 9.0% (1,185)
High School / GED 44.0% (5,795)
Some College 19.0% (2,502)
Associate's Degree 9.0% (1,185)
Bachelor's Degree 10.0% (1,317)
Master's Degree 5.0% (658)
Professional Degree 1.0% (131)
Doctorate Degree 0.0% (0)
See the full breakdown
  • 3.0% of adults in Sterling completed < 9th grade.

  • 9.0% of adults in Sterling completed 9-12th grade.

  • 44.0% 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.

  • 10.0% 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.

Education Sterling CO USA
< 9th Grade 3.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 9.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 44.0% 20.0% 26.0%
Some College 19.0% 19.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 10.0% 28.0% 22.0%
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

Less than $10,000 9.2% (121,700)
$10,000 to $14,999 5.1% (67,407)
$15,000 to $24,999 11.6% (153,437)
$25,000 to $34,999 9.9% (130,093)
$35,000 to $49,999 22.7% (299,268)
$50,000 to $74,999 15.4% (203,009)
$75,000 to $99,999 12.8% (168,125)
$100,000 to $149,999 6.8% (88,914)
$150,000 to $199,999 5.1% (67,145)
$200,000 or more 1.4% (18,097)
See the full breakdown
  • 9.2% of households in Sterling earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.1% of households in Sterling earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 11.6% of households in Sterling earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.9% of households in Sterling earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 22.7% of households in Sterling earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 15.4% of households in Sterling earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.8% of households in Sterling earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 6.8% of households in Sterling earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 5.1% of households in Sterling earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 1.4% of households in Sterling earn $200,000 or more.

Income Sterling CO USA
Less than $10,000 9.2% 3.9% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.1% 2.4% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 11.6% 4.8% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.9% 5.2% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 22.7% 8.4% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 15.4% 14.6% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.8% 12.8% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 6.8% 19.2% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 5.1% 11.7% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 1.4% 17.0% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)