Sterling, CO Demographics

A map of Sterling's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	9,252	9,471	70.2%	69.0%
Hispanic	2,793	2,866	21.2%	20.9%
Black	560	733	4.3%	5.3%
Multiracial	309	391	2.3%	2.8%
Native American/Other	153	179	1.2%	1.3%
Asian	105	95	0.8%	0.7%

Sterling, Colorado has an estimated population of 13,172, a decrease from the 13,735 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 70.2% White, 21.2% Hispanic, 4.3% Black, 2.3% Multiracial, 1.2% Native American/Other, and 0.8% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Sterling, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Sterling has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Colorado overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Sterling, that probability was 47.7% in 2020 and 45.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Sterling is ranked the 58th most populous place in Colorado, out of 482 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Sterling was ranked the 54th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Sterling's White Population

9,252 residents of Sterling, or 70.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Sterling is higher than in Colorado overall, where 64.8% of the population is White. Sterling ranks 331st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 482 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Sterling's population has increased from 69.0% to 70.2%.

Sterling is less White than neighboring Atwood (96.8% White), Padroni (100% White), Iliff (84% White), Merino (86.4% White), and Peetz (91.3% White).

Sterling's Black Population

560 residents of Sterling, or 4.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Sterling is comparable to the share in Colorado overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Sterling ranks 14th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 482 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Black population has declined by an estimated 23.6%. Black residents' share of Sterling's population has decreased from 5.3% to 4.3%.

Sterling is more Black than neighboring Atwood (0% Black), Padroni (0% Black), Iliff (3% Black), Merino (2.8% Black), and Peetz (0% Black).

Sterling's Asian Population

105 residents of Sterling, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Sterling is slightly lower than in Colorado overall, where 3.2% of the population is Asian. Sterling ranks 241st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 482 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Asian population has grown by an estimated 10.5%. Asian residents' share of Sterling's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Sterling is more Asian than neighboring Atwood (0% Asian), Padroni (0% Asian), Iliff (0% Asian), Merino (0% Asian), and Peetz (0% Asian).

Sterling's Hispanic Population

2,793 residents of Sterling, or 21.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Sterling is comparable to the share in Colorado overall, where 22.5% of the population is Hispanic. Sterling ranks 146th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 482 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 2.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Sterling's population has remained roughly unchanged at 21.2%.

Sterling is more Hispanic than neighboring Atwood (0% Hispanic), Padroni (0% Hispanic), Iliff (13.1% Hispanic), Merino (4.9% Hispanic), and Peetz (7.9% Hispanic).

Sterling's Native American/Other Population

153 residents of Sterling, or 1.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Sterling is comparable to the share in Colorado overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Sterling ranks 158th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 482 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 14.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Sterling's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

Sterling is more Native American/Other than neighboring Atwood (0% Native American/Other), Padroni (0% Native American/Other), Iliff (0% Native American/Other), Merino (0% Native American/Other), and Peetz (0.8% Native American/Other).

Sterling's Multiracial Population

309 residents of Sterling, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Sterling is slightly lower than in Colorado overall, where 4.6% of the population is Multiracial. Sterling ranks 358th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 482 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 21.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Sterling's population has decreased from 2.8% to 2.3%.

Sterling is more Multiracial than neighboring Padroni (0% Multiracial), Iliff (0% Multiracial), and Peetz (0% Multiracial). Sterling is less Multiracial than neighboring Atwood (3.2% Multiracial), and Merino (5.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.