State
County
Land Area (mi²)
36.4 sq mi
Density (mi²)
3,619.20/sq mi
2020 Growth Rate
-0.22%
Growth Since 2010
1.67%
Rank in State
Rank in Country
World Population Review
Sterling Heights, Michigan Population 2021
131,864
Sterling Heights is a city located in Macomb County Michigan. With a 2020 population of 131,864, it is the 4th largest city in Michigan (after Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Warren) and the 211th largest city in the United States . Sterling Heights is currently declining at a rate of -0.22% annually but its population has increased by 1.67% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 129,699 in 2010. Sterling Heights reached it's highest population of 132,725 in 2018. Spanning over 37 miles, Sterling Heights has a population density of 3,619 people per square mile.
The average household income in Sterling Heights is $79,647 with a poverty rate of 11.02%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,025 per month, and the median house value is $187,600. The median age in Sterling Heights is 40.6 years, 38.4 years for males, and 42.5 years for females.
Sterling Heights Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Sterling Heights was:
- White: 83.28%
- Asian: 7.69%
- Black or African American: 5.93%
- Two or more races: 2.15%
- Other race: 0.67%
- Native American: 0.28%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.00%
The current population of Sterling Heights, Michigan is 131,864 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates. The US Census estimates the 2018 population at 132,725.The last official US Census in 2010 recorded the population at 129,699.
Sterling Heights, Michigan Population 2021
| Race | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 110,326 | 83.28% |
| Asian | 10,181 | 7.69% |
| Black or African American | 7,855 | 5.93% |
| Two or More Races | 2,849 | 2.15% |
| Some Other Race | 888 | 0.67% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 377 | 0.28% |
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Sterling Heights Population by Race
Sterling Heights Population Pyramid $2021
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Sterling Heights Population by Age
Sterling Heights Households and Families
| Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 50,082 | 2.63 | 73 |
| Married | 26,771 | 3.32 | 82.6 |
| Non Family | 15,473 | 1.19 | 58 |
| Female | 5,194 | 3.07 | 66.3 |
| Male | 2,644 | 3.21 | 75.3 |
3.22
Average Family Size
2.63
Average Household Size
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Sterling Heights Households by Type
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| Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 6,675 | 7.10% |
| 9th to 12th Grade | 6,198 | 6.59% |
| High School Graduate | 26,494 | 28.19% |
| Some College | 18,874 | 20.08% |
| Associates Degree | 9,020 | 9.60% |
| Bachelors Degree | 17,529 | 18.65% |
| Graduate Degree | 9,204 | 9.79% |
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Sterling Heights Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Sterling Heights Educational Attainment by Race
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| Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79,012 | 67,950 | 20,526 |
| Asian | 6,911 | 6,094 | 4,003 |
| Black | 5,081 | 4,671 | 1,426 |
| Hispanic | 1,644 | 1,373 | 386 |
| 2+ Races | 1,095 | 838 | 357 |
| Other Race | 421 | 357 | 128 |
| Native American | 270 | 160 | 28 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among black people with a rate of 91.93%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 57.92%.
Sterling Heights Educational Attainment by Race
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$40,341
Average Earnings
$50,199
Average Male
$31,370
Average Female
Sterling Heights Earnings by Educational Attainment
Sterling Heights Language by Age
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Sterling Heights Language
66.96% of Sterling Heights residents speak only English, while 33.04% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other languages, which is spoken by 18.33% of the population.
Sterling Heights Language
Sterling Heights Poverty by Race
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| Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 107,478 | 12,002 | 11.17% |
| Black | 7,776 | 949 | 12.20% |
| Asian | 10,175 | 942 | 9.26% |
| Hispanic | 2,975 | 298 | 10.02% |
| Native | 377 | 205 | 54.38% |
| Multiple | 2,840 | 173 | 6.09% |
| Other | 884 | 28 | 3.17% |
11.02%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.05%
Male Poverty Rate
11.95%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Sterling Heights
The race most likely to be in poverty in Sterling Heights is Native, with 54.38% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Sterling Heights is Other, with 3.17% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.66%. Among those working part-time, it was 11.91%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 15.87%.
Sterling Heights Poverty
Sterling Heights Poverty Rate by Education
Sterling Heights Marital Status
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Marriage Rates
53.0%
Overall Marriage Rate
54.3%
Male Marriage Rate
51.7%
Female Marriage Rate
Sterling Heights Married by Age and Sex
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Sterling Heights Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Sterling Heights Marital Status by Race
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Sterling Heights Marital Status
Sterling Heights Veterans by War
Sterling Heights Veterans by Age
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| Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,247 | 6.98% |
| Black | 251 | 4.21% |
| Hispanic | 107 | 5.03% |
| Asian | 101 | 1.30% |
| Other Race | 46 | 7.54% |
| 2+ Races | 41 | 2.72% |
| Native American | 11 | 3.07% |
Sterling Heights Veterans by Race
Sterling Heights Veterans by Education
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4.92%
Veteran Poverty Rate
31.48%
Veteran Disability Rate
Sterling Heights Veterans by Education
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62.1%
Labor Force Participation
59.6%
Employment Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
Sterling Heights Employment by Age
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Sterling Heights Employment by Race
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Sterling Heights Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
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Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
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72.91%
Native Born
27.09%
Foreign Born
9.11%
Non Citizen
17.98%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
72.91% of Sterling Heights residents were born in the United States, with 64.55% having been born in Michigan. 9.11% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Sterling Heights Place of Birth
| Year | Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131,864 | -287 | -0.22% |
| 2020 | 132,151 | -287 | -0.22% |
| 2019 | 132,438 | -287 | -0.22% |
| 2018 | 132,725 | 44 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 132,681 | 159 | 0.12% |
| 2016 | 132,522 | 481 | 0.36% |
| 2015 | 132,041 | -95 | -0.07% |
| 2014 | 132,136 | 615 | 0.47% |
| 2013 | 131,521 | 849 | 0.65% |
| 2012 | 130,672 | 630 | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 130,042 | 333 | 0.26% |
| 2010 | 129,709 | 5,238 | 0.41% |
| 2000 | 124,471 | 6,661 | 0.55% |
| 1990 | 117,810 | 8,811 | 0.78% |
| 1980 | 108,999 | 47,634 | 5.91% |
| 1970 | 61,365 | 56,365 | 28.50% |
| 1960 | 5,000 | 4,600 | 13.46% |
| 1940 | 400 | 0.00% |