City · Kansas
Sterling, Kansas
Sterling, city, in Rice County, Kansas. Sterling had 2,303 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,248 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,411 (±216). GEOID 2068200.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,303
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,248 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,411 ±216
Median household income
$54,922
±$4,210 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$133,000
±$30,593 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$689
±$99 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
Where is Sterling and what county is it in?
Sterling is a city in Rice County, Kansas. It covers 1.9 square miles of land, 1,205 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sterling, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,303 people lived in Sterling on July 1, 2025, up 2.4% since 2020, faster than Kansas (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 2,248 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,411 (±216).
| Measure | Sterling | Rice County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,411 ±216 | 9,350 | no clear change |
| Households | 835 ±111 | 3,714 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.21 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 952 ±110 | 4,384 | no clear change |
Sterling's population since 2000
From 2,642 in 2000 to 2,303 in 2025: down 12.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Sterling as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Sterling?
The median resident of Sterling is 29.4 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 17.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.3%.
| Measure | Sterling | Rice County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.4 ±4.4 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.4% ±2.6 pts | 23.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.1% ±3.5 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 49.4% ±4.2 pts | 51.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.3% ±4.3 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.6% ±4.9 pts | 77.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±2.0 pts | 1.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±1.6 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.6% ±2.3 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±3.1 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7% ±3.9 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.5% ±2.5 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.5% ±3.3 pts | 90.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 39.8% ±7.2 pts | 25.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.2% ±5.5 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 76.6% ±5.4 pts | 86.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.4% ±4.6 pts | 3.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Sterling earn?
Half of Sterling's 835 households earn less than $54,922 a year (±$4,210), against $63,925 in Rice County and $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $58,535 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sterling | Rice County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,922 ±$4,210 | $63,925 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $90,230 ±$25,405 | $81,167 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,174 ±$6,228 | $33,232 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.7% ±2.6 pts | 7.7% | −14.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.2% ±3.1 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.5% ±5.4 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% ±1.9 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.3% ±4.2 pts | 89.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Sterling?
Owners occupy 75.6% of Sterling's occupied homes and renters 24.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $133,000 by its owner (±$30,593). The median renter pays $689 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Sterling | Rice County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $133,000 ±$30,593 | $104,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $689 ±$99 | $753 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 16.9% ±13.2 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,016 ±$389 | $1,179 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.6% ±6.6 pts | 77.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 24.4% ±6.6 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Housing units | 952 ±110 | 4,384 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.6 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±13.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 88.1% ±4.3 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% ±1.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±2.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 37.6% ±9.0 pts | 34.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.1% ±3.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Sterling building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Sterling in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 2.2 per 1,000 residents against 3.5 across Kansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Sterling work and get to work?
71.4% of Sterling's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.9 minutes.
| Measure | Sterling | Rice County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.7% ±4.9 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4% ±2.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.4% ±7.4 pts | 76.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3% ±4.3 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 12.1% ±4.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.9% ±4.2 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.9 min ±6.2 | 20.9 min | +8.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Sterling?
No census tract lies mostly in Sterling; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9673Rice County | 3,453 | $66,522 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Sterling) · Census block assignment files
How does Sterling compare with other places in Kansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sterling is the 7,176th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 103rd-most populous of 625 in Kansas.
Sterling ranks 307th of 374 places in Kansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 103rd | 625 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 75th | 373 |
| Residents per square mile | 106th | 376 |
| Median household income | 307th | 374 |
| Per capita income | 302nd | 375 |
| Median home value | 246th | 370 |
| Median gross rent | 285th | 333 |
| Poverty rate | 224th | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63rd | 374 |
| Median age | 354th | 376 |
| Owner-occupied share | 196th | 374 |
| Work from home | 143rd | 233 |
| Travel time to work | 183rd | 375 |
Sterling's figures with every place in Kansas (CSV)
Every place in Kansas, sortable · Compare Sterling with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Sterling?
16 of the 57 figures for Sterling on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Sterling are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Sterling.