Sterling, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sterling, Oklahoma had a total population of 751, the 291st largest town in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $67,981, which is 5% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
Sterling Quick Facts
How Sterling Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 730 | 751 | +2.9% |
| Median household income | $65,521 | $67,981 | +3.8% |
| Median home value | $120,800 | $131,900 | +9.2% |
How Sterling Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Sterling Rankings in Oklahoma
Explore Oklahoma Rankings
Other Cities in Comanche County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | 90,595 | $54,433 | 21.1% | $142,100 |
| Elgin | 3,608 | $96,250 | 11.1% | $260,700 |
| Cache | 3,074 | $65,536 | 16.5% | $162,700 |
| Fletcher | 1,309 | $71,458 | 19.7% | $148,300 |
| Geronimo | 1,155 | $73,611 | 10.7% | $93,500 |
| Medicine Park | 418 | $124,000 | 4.8% | $331,500 |
| Chattanooga | 406 | $53,438 | 16.3% | $113,700 |
| Indiahoma | 297 | $59,688 | 12.5% | $58,400 |
| Lake Ellsworth Addition | 203 | N/A | 20.7% | N/A |
| Edgewater Park | 135 | $34,375 | 17.0% | $67,400 |
Cities Similar to Sterling
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewar | 764 | $67,813 | $92,800 | 7.3% | 12.6% |
| Brushy | 777 | $66,429 | $149,200 | 9.3% | 12.3% |
| Garber | 708 | $67,625 | $69,400 | 14.6% | 17.6% |
| Morrison | 789 | $71,875 | $146,900 | 14.1% | 8.4% |
| Tipton | 784 | $63,125 | $73,300 | 17.0% | 23.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 751, Sterling's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Sterling is a small community located in Oklahoma, within Comanche County. The total population is 751. It ranks as the 291st most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sterling is 40.2 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 37.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sterling is $67,981. This is 5% higher than the state median of $65,039. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 9% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.3%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Sterling, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $131,900. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $199,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Sterling is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 65.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Sterling has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.
Education
11.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 28.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sterling, Oklahoma is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Oklahoma state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Oklahoma city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sterling, Oklahoma?
Sterling, Oklahoma has a population of 751 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sterling, OK?
The median household income in Sterling is $67,981, which is 16% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sterling, OK?
The poverty rate in Sterling is 14.0%. This means approximately 105 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sterling, Oklahoma?
Sterling's population is 88.0% White, 3.6% Black, 3.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sterling, OK?
The median home value in Sterling is $131,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.
How educated is Sterling, Oklahoma?
11.8% of adults (25+) in Sterling hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.