County · Texas
Sterling County, Texas
Sterling County, Texas. Sterling County had 1,349 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020, while Texas grew 8.8%. It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 1 census tract. GEOID 48431.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,349
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,372 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,468 ±172
Median household income
$64,954
±$18,855 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$147,000
±$100,552 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$952
±$73 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
How many people live in Sterling County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,372 residents in Sterling County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,349 for July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while Texas grew 8.8%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,468 over 923 square miles of land.
| Measure | Sterling County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,468±172 | 30,188,424 | +237 |
| Households | 399±66 | 10,992,816 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.59±0.49 | 2.69 | +0.98 |
| Housing units | 524±69 | 12,128,515 | no clear change |
Sterling County's population since 2000
From 1,393 in 2000 to 1,349 in 2025: down 3.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Sterling County?
Sterling County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Sterling City with 1,094 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Sterling City | 1,121 | $66,615 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Sterling County?
The median resident of Sterling County is 32.1 years old; 34.7% are under 18 and 15.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 62.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 35.7%. 11.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sterling County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1±4.1 | 35.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 34.7%±5.5 pts | 25.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.7%±5.1 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 35.7%±10.3 pts | 39.7% | −16.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 62.8%±10.5 pts | 39.1% | +15.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.8 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.4 pts | 5.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±3.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.0%±1.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±3.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.9%±5.2 pts | 17.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.6%±11.2 pts | 35.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.9%±1.1 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 12.8%±6.0 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 26.4%±14.3 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.0%±8.1 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.5%±8.1 pts | 33.8% | +15.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.7%±5.3 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0%±3.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
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 County earn?
Half of Sterling County's 399 households earn less than $64,954 a year (±$18,855), against $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $73,679 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Sterling County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,954±$18,855 | $78,476 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $97,198±$16,564 | $109,933 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,196±$5,361 | $40,752 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.3%±3.0 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0%±9.3 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.0%±8.2 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.0%±5.3 pts | 91.4% | – |
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 County?
Owners occupy 77.7% of Sterling County's occupied homes and renters 22.3%. The median renter pays $952 a month including utilities, and 62.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sterling County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $147,000±$100,552 | $283,800 | – |
| Median gross rent | $952±$73 | $1,403 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 62.5%±24.7 pts | 42.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,228±$210 | $2,106 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.7%±9.8 pts | 62.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 524±69 | 12,128,515 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6%±2.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±39.0 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.7%±6.8 pts | 64.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.9%±6.7 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.9 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2%±3.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 do people in Sterling County get to work?
80.1% of Sterling County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 24.4 minutes.
| Measure | Sterling County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.9%±7.0 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.1%±2.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.1%±7.7 pts | 71.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.7%±5.3 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±8.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.1%±1.6 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.1%±5.9 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.4 min±5.3 | 26.7 min | +7.3 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 are Sterling County's census tracts?
Sterling County is a single census tract.
| Tract 950148431950100 | 1,468±172 | $64,954 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Sterling County compare with Texas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 238th of 253 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 191st of 254 |
| Residents per square mile | 236th of 254 |
| Median household income | 128th of 253 |
| Median gross rent | 125th of 245 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 74th of 252 |
| Median age | 234th of 254 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 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.