Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Sterling, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

448

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

94%421

Black

2.5%11

Two or More

2.5%11

Hispanic/Latino

0.9%4

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%1

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

7%23

High School Diploma

32.3%106

Some College (<1 yr)

11.3%37

Some College (1+ yr)

12.8%42

Associate's Degree

8.5%28

Bachelor's Degree

10.4%34

Master's Degree

4.3%14

Professional Degree

0.6%2

Doctorate

0.3%1

HS or Higher

87.5%

BA or Higher

15.5%

Graduate+

5.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$89,200

Median Renti

$775

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

87.7%136

Renter-Occupied

12.3%19

Total Units

186

Homeownership

87.7%

Vacancy Rate

16.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

22.1%30

$50K–$100K

38.2%52

$100K–$150K

14%19

$150K–$200K

12.5%17

$200K–$300K

11%15

$300K–$500K

2.2%3

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

Year Built

2010–2019

0.5%1

2000–2009

4.3%8

1990–1999

12.4%23

1980–1989

4.3%8

1970–1979

16.7%31

1960–1969

5.9%11

1950–1959

10.2%19

1940–1949

17.7%33

1939 or earlier

28%52

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

82.6%128

Bottled/LP Gas

7.1%11

Wood

5.8%9

Electricity

1.9%3

Fuel Oil

1.3%2

Other

1.3%2

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$61,563

Mean Household Incomei

$73,137

Per Capita Incomei

$27,230

Poverty Ratei

10%

Unemploymenti

6.1%

Labor Forcei

228

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.9%6

$10K–$15K

3.9%6

$20K–$25K

1.9%3

$25K–$30K

3.9%6

$30K–$35K

7.1%11

$35K–$40K

3.2%5

$40K–$45K

3.9%6

$45K–$50K

9%14

$50K–$60K

11.6%18

$60K–$75K

14.2%22

$75K–$100K

16.8%26

$100K–$125K

7.1%11

$125K–$150K

7.7%12

$150K–$200K

3.2%5

$200K+

2.6%4

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

205

Avg. Commutei

22.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

214

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

20(5.6% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.9%Insured

4.1%Uninsured