Town · Wisconsin
Town of Sterling, Vernon County, Wisconsin
Sterling (town), Vernon County, town, in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Sterling (town), Vernon County had 550 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 550 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 575 (±117). GEOID 5512377075.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
550
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 550 · ACS 2020-2024: 575 ±117
Median household income
$71,776
±$4,860 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$222,600
±$27,463 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$850
±$307 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Sterling (town), Vernon County and what county is it in?
Sterling (town), Vernon County is a town in Vernon County, Wisconsin. It covers 45.6 square miles of land, 12 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sterling (town), Vernon County is in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sterling (town), Vernon County, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 550 people lived in Sterling (town), Vernon County on July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020 Census counted 550 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 575 (±117).
| Measure | Sterling (town), Vernon County | Vernon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 575±117 | 31,049 | no clear change |
| Households | 227±40 | 12,424 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.53±0.25 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 271±45 | 14,065 | no clear change |
Sterling (town), Vernon County's population since 2000
From 713 in 2000 to 550 in 2025: down 22.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Sterling (town), Vernon County 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 (town), Vernon County?
The median resident of Sterling (town), Vernon County is 41.6 years old; 30.8% are under 18 and 22.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.3%.
| Measure | Sterling (town), Vernon County | Vernon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6±7.3 | 41.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 30.8%±6.0 pts | 26.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.3%±5.7 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Male | 51.3%±4.8 pts | 50.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.3%±2.8 pts | 94.3% | −4.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3%±1.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.4%±2.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.8%±5.0 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.1%±4.7 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 11.0%±3.8 pts | 10.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.7%±10.3 pts | 15.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.1%±6.7 pts | 90.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.3%±6.3 pts | 24.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.9%±5.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.5%±5.3 pts | 93.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0%±3.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
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 (town), Vernon County earn?
Half of Sterling (town), Vernon County's 227 households earn less than $71,776 a year (±$4,860), against $71,893 in Vernon County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $73,402 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sterling (town), Vernon County | Vernon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,776±$4,860 | $71,893 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,234±$20,947 | $90,506 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,399±$7,876 | $36,396 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.7%±7.1 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.6%±14.1 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.5%±5.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.7%±7.7 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.6%±8.0 pts | 80.4% | – |
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 (town), Vernon County?
Owners occupy 80.2% of Sterling (town), Vernon County's occupied homes and renters 19.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,600 by its owner (±$27,463). The median renter pays $850 a month including utilities, and 39.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sterling (town), Vernon County | Vernon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $222,600±$27,463 | $223,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $850±$307 | $836 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.1%±25.2 pts | 24.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,655±$146 | $1,517 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.2%±8.4 pts | 80.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.8%±8.4 pts | 19.7% | – |
| Housing units | 271±45 | 14,065 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±11.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 13.5%±20.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.7%±6.9 pts | 80.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 13.3%±6.9 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±8.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.6%±5.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 31.7%±10.2 pts | 24.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.2%±6.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
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 (town), Vernon County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Sterling (town), Vernon County in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 1.8 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
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 (town), Vernon County work and get to work?
74.5% of Sterling (town), Vernon County's workers drive alone and 10.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.3 minutes.
| Measure | Sterling (town), Vernon County | Vernon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.1%±8.8 pts | 59.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3%±2.4 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 74.5%±7.8 pts | 72.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.5%±5.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±9.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 8.2%±5.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.8%±6.4 pts | 12.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.3 min±4.0 | 24.1 min | no clear change |
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 (town), Vernon County?
No census tract lies mostly in Sterling (town), Vernon County; 3 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9605Vernon County | 3,457 | $72,278 |
| Tract 9606Vernon County | 5,260 | $92,685 |
| Tract 9607Vernon County | 4,249 | $74,193 |
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 (town), Vernon County) · Census block assignment files
How does Sterling (town), Vernon County compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sterling (town), Vernon County is the 9,752nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 929th-most populous of 1,239 in Wisconsin.
Sterling (town), Vernon County is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 929th | 1,239 |
Sterling (town), Vernon County's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Sterling (town), Vernon County 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 (town), Vernon County?
20 of the 57 figures for Sterling (town), Vernon County 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 (town), Vernon County 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' school search.