The Town FilesSterlington, Louisiana
Town in Ouachita Parish · population 1,980 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,400
- Household income
- $69,007
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 35.9
Sterlington is a town of 1,980 people in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $228,400, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Louisiana towns, more upscale than 88% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Louisiana towns.
How Sterlington ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sterlington is worth $228,400, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $69,007, which is more affordable than 39% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,078 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sterlington | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,400 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,078 | $887 |
| Median household income | $69,007 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sterlington
| People | Sterlington | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 84.6% |
Weather in Sterlington
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 58.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterlington since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 1, 1983 about 3.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 10, 2006.
Severe weather in Ouachita Parish since 1996
Ouachita Parish has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish had 69,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,059 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Sterlington itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Sterlington
2 public schools with 1,221 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterlington Elementary School | PK-5 | 799 | 17.4 |
| Sterlington Middle School | 6-8 | 422 | 14.6 |
Towns near Sterlington
- Swartz, LA8.6 mi · 4,354 people · home $199,800
- Bastrop, LA10.7 mi · 9,691 people · home $87,800
- Lakeshore, LA10.8 mi · 1,988 people · home $166,800
- Monroe, LA11.8 mi · 47,702 people · home $198,900
- Claiborne, LA12.9 mi · 12,631 people · home $219,200
- West Monroe, LA13.3 mi · 13,103 people · home $192,400
- Brownsville, LA15.1 mi · 4,353 people · home $74,700
- Bawcomville, LA16.6 mi · 3,472 people · home $61,500
Sterlington questions
Is Sterlington, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sterlington scores better for retirees than 42% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 35%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Sterlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Sterlington is valued at $228,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,007, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,078 a month.
What is the weather like in Sterlington?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Sterlington get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 1, 1983. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)