City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Sterlington, LA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sterlington - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,045
Residents
$67,986
Median income
$193,800
Median home
$1,026
Median rent (state)

Sterlington - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Sterlington lands in the 47th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

47th
percentile, household income
41st
percentile, home value
22nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sterlington, LA

Sterlington is a small town in Louisiana, home to 2,045 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $67,986 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.9%. Sterlington's housing stock carries a median value of $193,800, and the median resident age is 37.3 years. 17.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 43 residential building permits were authorized in Sterlington (Rapid Growth), up 26% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Louisiana scores 88.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,026 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Louisiana's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 87.5 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

2,045 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$67,986 /yr

Poverty 13.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Sterlington compare to other US cities?

Sterlington measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 41% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sterlington's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Louisiana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

47thIncome percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sterlington's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$193,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 59% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sterlington $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sterlington, LA Sterlington, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sterlington, LA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sterlington, LA median $67,986/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sterlington, LA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sterlington, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,045
Median Income
$67,986
Median Home Value
$193,800
Median Age
37.3
Poverty Rate
13.9%
Labor force participation
60.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.2%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,800 residents2,000 residents2,200 residents2,400 residents2,600 residents2,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,019 residents 2,663 residents ▲ +31.9%
Sterlington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
43
housing units authorized
Single-Family
41
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
21
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 34
2020 37
2021 57
2022 105
2023 90
2024 43

Permit volume increased 26% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
90.7%
Carpool
4.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
1.1%
Other
2.8%

Based on 938 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Louisiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sterlington sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,026/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Independence
2,045 people
Fort Polk North
2,034 people
Kentwood
2,057 people
Basile
2,096 people
Milton
2,123 people
Zwolle
1,961 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterlington's 2,045 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Plantsville, CT
2,045 people
Auburn, MI
2,045 people
Nambe, NM
2,045 people
Cooper, TX
2,045 people
Ganado, TX
2,045 people
Harmony Grove, CA
2,044 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterlington's $67,986 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Shafter, CA
$67,989 median income
New Auburn, WI
$67,981 median income
Nebraska City, NE
$67,993 median income
Pine Mountain Lake, CA
$68,000 median income
Pike, NY
$68,000 median income
Rushsylvania, OH
$68,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sterlington, LA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sterlington, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.1% 22.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.1% White 73.1% Black or African American 22.3% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.7% Two or more races 0.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sterlington compares to nearby Louisiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sterlington (this city) 2,045 $67,986
Independence 2,045 $44,821
Fort Polk North 2,034 $45,411
Kentwood 2,057 $32,074
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sterlington, LA?

What is the population of Sterlington, LA? +

The population of Sterlington, LA stands at 2,045 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sterlington, LA? +

Sterlington households earn a median of $67,986 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sterlington? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sterlington; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sterlington, LA? +

The median home value in Sterlington is $193,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.