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 Heights, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

133,573

Median Agei

41.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

76.2%101,731

Asian

9.2%12,337

Black

7.4%9,918

Two or More

3.5%4,700

Hispanic/Latino

3%4,023

Other

0.4%478

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%224

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%162

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.1%2,010

High School Diploma

24.1%23,272

Some College (<1 yr)

6.9%6,637

Some College (1+ yr)

12.8%12,347

Associate's Degree

9.9%9,504

Bachelor's Degree

20.8%20,013

Master's Degree

7.9%7,631

Professional Degree

1.6%1,502

Doctorate

0.9%864

HS or Higher

86.9%

BA or Higher

31.1%

Graduate+

10.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$274,300

Median Renti

$1,292

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

75.8%39,206

Renter-Occupied

24.2%12,530

Total Units

53,607

Homeownership

75.8%

Vacancy Rate

3.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.7%2,218

$50K–$100K

1.9%744

$100K–$150K

2.9%1,154

$150K–$200K

8.7%3,395

$200K–$300K

42.4%16,637

$300K–$500K

33.8%13,248

$500K–$1M

4.3%1,684

$1M+

0.3%126

Rent Distribution

Under $500

586

$500–$750

335

$750–$1,000

1,940

$1,000–$1,250

2,797

$1,250–$1,500

2,227

$1,500–$2,000

2,249

$2,000+

1,935

Year Built

2020 or later

0.6%307

2010–2019

3.9%2,073

2000–2009

11.1%5,931

1990–1999

11.4%6,090

1980–1989

15.3%8,195

1970–1979

28.7%15,392

1960–1969

20.7%11,121

1950–1959

6.5%3,477

1940–1949

1.3%691

1939 or earlier

0.6%330

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

88.8%45,953

Electricity

8.8%4,550

Bottled/LP Gas

1.3%697

No Fuel

0.5%266

Other

0.4%221

Coal

0%21

Fuel Oil

0%19

Wood

0%9

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$79,909

Mean Household Incomei

$97,355

Per Capita Incomei

$38,084

Poverty Ratei

11%

Unemploymenti

6.1%

Labor Forcei

68,048

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.5%2,351

$10K–$15K

2.8%1,456

$15K–$20K

2.9%1,507

$20K–$25K

3.1%1,585

$25K–$30K

3.8%1,970

$30K–$35K

3.7%1,905

$35K–$40K

3.1%1,590

$40K–$45K

4.3%2,221

$45K–$50K

2.9%1,482

$50K–$60K

5.9%3,076

$60K–$75K

10.2%5,256

$75K–$100K

14.3%7,395

$100K–$125K

11.8%6,116

$125K–$150K

9%4,665

$150K–$200K

10.1%5,229

$200K+

7.6%3,932

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

37,35028%

By Region

Top Countries

India

2,419

Philippines

1,671

Poland

1,340

Canada

853

China

557

Korea

555

Mexico

498

Germany

378

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

61,731

Avg. Commutei

24.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

63,874

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

4,071(3.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.3%Insured

5.7%Uninsured