Sterling, NE Demographics

A map of Sterling's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	701	452	97.8%	94.2%
Hispanic	11	21	1.5%	4.4%
Multiracial	5	7	0.7%	1.5%
Black	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Asian	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Native American/Other	0	0	0.0%	0.0%

Sterling, Nebraska has an estimated population of 717, a dramatic increase from the 480 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 97.8% White, 1.5% Hispanic, 0.7% Multiracial, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. 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 considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Nebraska 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 11.1% in 2020 and 4.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Sterling is ranked the 164th most populous place in Nebraska, out of 593 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 205th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Sterling's White Population

701 residents of Sterling, or 97.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Sterling is significantly higher than in Nebraska overall, where 75.3% of the population is White. Sterling ranks 145th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's White population has grown by an estimated 55.1%. White residents' share of Sterling's population has increased from 94.2% to 97.8%.

Sterling is more White than neighboring Burr (73.2% White), Douglas (90.3% White), and Panama (87.1% White). Sterling is less White than neighboring Crab Orchard (100% White), and Adams (99.8% White).

Sterling's Black Population

0 residents of Sterling, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Sterling is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 4.6% of the population is Black. Sterling ranks 271st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Black population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Black residents' share of Sterling's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Sterling's Asian Population

0 residents of Sterling, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Sterling is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 2.6% of the population is Asian. Sterling ranks 270th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Asian population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Asian residents' share of Sterling's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Sterling is less Asian than neighboring Douglas (0.4% Asian).

Sterling's Hispanic Population

11 residents of Sterling, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Sterling is considerably lower than in Nebraska overall, where 12.7% of the population is Hispanic. Sterling ranks 259th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 47.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Sterling's population has decreased from 4.4% to 1.5%.

Sterling is more Hispanic than neighboring Crab Orchard (0% Hispanic), Adams (0% Hispanic), and Panama (0% Hispanic). Sterling is less Hispanic than neighboring Burr (26.8% Hispanic), and Douglas (2.2% Hispanic).

Sterling's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Sterling, or 0.0% 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 Nebraska overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Sterling ranks 362nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Native American/Other population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Native American/Other residents' share of Sterling's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Sterling is less Native American/Other than neighboring Adams (0.2% Native American/Other).

Sterling's Multiracial Population

5 residents of Sterling, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Sterling is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Sterling ranks 465th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sterling's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 28.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Sterling's population has decreased from 1.5% to 0.7%.

Sterling is more Multiracial than neighboring Burr (0% Multiracial), Crab Orchard (0% Multiracial), and Adams (0% Multiracial). Sterling is less Multiracial than neighboring Douglas (7.1% Multiracial), and Panama (12.9% 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.