Sterling City, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sterling City is a small community located in Texas, within Sterling County. The total population is 1,256. It ranks as the 926th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sterling City is 29.9 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 35.8% of the population under 18, Sterling City has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sterling City is $66,615. This is 15% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.9%. This is 72% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $134,800. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Sterling City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sterling City is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 35.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (63.6% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

19.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sterling City, Texas 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 Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.