1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Sterling County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,954. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Sterling County
- Income in Sterling County compared with Texas
- The Sterling County job picture
- Sterling County housing compared with Texas
- Counties near Sterling County
- Towns and communities in Sterling County
- People and households in Sterling County
- What the numbers mean for Sterling County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Sterling County's medians
- Four steps for Sterling County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Sterling County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Sterling County
Roughly 1,468 residents live in Sterling County, Texas, 238th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 923 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sterling County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 1 Census place inside Sterling County, Sterling City leads by population with about 1,256. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Sterling County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Sterling County compared with Texas
At $64,954, the typical Sterling County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Sterling County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.3% | -3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.3% | +5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -7.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Sterling County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. Census counts 4.3% of Sterling County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.412 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Sterling County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Sterling County job picture
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Sterling County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 16% in education and health care. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (27% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Sterling County averages 2.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Sector | Sterling County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 27.2% | +24.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.4% | -5.2 pts |
| Public administration | 15.0% | +10.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -1.0 pts |
| Other services | 9.7% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 4.9% | -6.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sterling County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Sterling County housing compared with Texas
A typical Sterling County rental runs $952 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 71% of renter households here. With a median value of $147,000, a typical Sterling County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Housing | Sterling County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $952/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 71% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 6% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Sterling County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Counties near Sterling County
Distances run center to center, from Coke County at 25 miles out to Reagan County at 42. Glasscock County leads the group on income ($101,250), Coke County trails ($43,333), and Sterling County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling County | - | $64,954 | $952/mo | 78% |
| Coke County, TX | 25 mi | $43,333 | $729/mo | 71% |
| Glasscock County, TX | 27 mi | $101,250 | $648/mo | 68% |
| Mitchell County, TX | 33 mi | $60,550 | $524/mo | 79% |
| Irion County, TX | 37 mi | $70,357 | $1,950/mo | 83% |
| Howard County, TX | 39 mi | $69,649 | $1,034/mo | 70% |
| Reagan County, TX | 42 mi | $57,813 | $746/mo | 70% |
Towns and communities in Sterling County
Sterling City is the only Census place mainly inside Sterling County, with about 1,256 of the county's 1,468 residents. Sterling City has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling City | city | 1,256 | $66,615 | $952 | 4 mi |
People and households in Sterling County
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. 26.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Sterling County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.5% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 26.4% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
What the numbers mean for Sterling County borrowers
Based on the Sterling County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 26% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Sterling County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Tight rental budgets. With 71% of Sterling County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Debt-to-income at Sterling County's medians
Here is the Sterling County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Sterling County: $5,413
- Median rent: $952, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,376 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Sterling County borrowers
Steps that save money for Sterling County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sterling County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Sterling County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Sterling County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Sterling County household make?
About $64,954 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Texas median.
How much is rent in Sterling County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $952 a month; 71% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Sterling County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Sterling City.
Are Sterling County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Sterling County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.