Sterling

Population: 2,396
Median household income: $51,304
Median home value: $130,200

Sterling, a community in Rice County, Kansas, has 2,396 residents. The median household income of $51,304 is below the Rice County median ($63,947).

Between 2019 and 2023, Sterling's population declined 7.7% from 2,596 to 2,396, while its median home value rose 56.1% from $83,400 to $130,200.

69.2% of workers drive to work alone. 84.9% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 2,396
Median age: 27.7 yrs
Median household income: $51,304
Median home value: $130,200
Median gross rent: $618
Housing units: 934
Homeownership rate: 75.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 36.1%
Unemployment rate: 1.9%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

2,5962,396

Median household income

$47,563$51,304

Median home value

$83,400$130,200

Median gross rent

$572$618

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	2,596	$47,563	$83,400	$572
2020	2,585	$44,907	$107,200	$610
2021	2,496	$48,092	$108,400	$562
2022	2,507	$49,323	$128,500	$624
2023	2,396	$51,304	$130,200	$618

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.5%

5 to 1713.9%

18 to 2426.9%

25 to 3411.2%

35 to 446.9%

45 to 549.0%

55 to 647.7%

65 to 749.8%

75 and over9.0%

	Count	Share
Under 5	132	5.5%
5 to 17	333	13.9%
18 to 24	644	26.9%
25 to 34	269	11.2%
35 to 44	166	6.9%
45 to 54	216	9.0%
55 to 64	184	7.7%
65 to 74	236	9.8%
75 and over	216	9.0%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	2,043	85.3%
Black or African American	100	4.2%
American Indian & Alaska Native	24	1.0%
Asian	6	0.3%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	49	2.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	174	7.3%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma3.4%

High school graduate26.0%

Some college or associate's34.4%

Bachelor's degree19.3%

Graduate or professional degree16.9%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	44	3.4%
High school graduate	335	26.0%
Some college or associate's	443	34.4%
Bachelor's degree	248	19.3%
Graduate or professional degree	217	16.9%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone69.2%

Carpooled5.2%

Public transit0.0%

Walked16.2%

Bicycle2.7%

Worked from home6.5%

Other means0.2%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	762	69.2%
Carpooled	57	5.2%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	178	16.2%
Bicycle	30	2.7%
Worked from home	72	6.5%
Other means	2	0.2%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	600	58.3%
15 to 29 min	168	16.3%
30 to 44 min	153	14.9%
45 to 59 min	30	2.9%
60+ min	78	7.6%

Households

Average household size: 2.34
Poverty rate: 4.9% (93 of 1,885)

	Count	Share
Family households	445	55.0%
Nonfamily households	364	45.0%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1955

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	809	86.6%
Vacant	125	13.4%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	609	75.3%
Renter-occupied	200	24.7%

1-unit, detached84.9%

1-unit, attached3.0%

2 to 4 units8.0%

5 to 19 units2.1%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other1.9%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	793	84.9%
1-unit, attached	28	3.0%
2 to 4 units	75	8.0%
5 to 19 units	20	2.1%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	18	1.9%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2068200
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 1.87 sq mi
Water area: 0.04 sq mi
Center point: 38.2093, -98.2065