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CITY

Sterling

Illinois · 14,394 residents (2025 est.) · 5.95 sq mi
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The short version

With 14,717 people, Sterling is a city in Illinois. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $108,700. Households here earn about 31% less than in Illinois as a whole. At a median age of 42.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. There are 2,475 people per square mile.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $57,350, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 16%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Sterling

What changed most since 1990

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree13.0% → 21.1% (+8.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts

Among the 13 cities and towns in the Sterling area

  • 9th in household income$57,350
  • 4th in share with a bachelor's degree21.1%
  • 10th in home value$108,700
  • 2nd in diversity score62.6

Its weight in Whiteside County

Sterling's population equals 27% of Whiteside County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 48% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 45% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,717
−5%since 2000
from 15,451 in 2000
14,394 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,475 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 2,599 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.6
+17%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
5.95 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K15K15K15K16K19902000201020202024Sterling
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(738)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(981)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145%(733)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(921)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.3%(1,081)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.8%(1,594)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(1,791)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.7%(1,867)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.2%(1,792)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(1,809)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.3%(931)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(479)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,350
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,664 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,040
+85%since 2000
from $19,432 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.6%
+22.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.3%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.468
+20%since 2010
from 0.390 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$108,700
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$859
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
34.9% rent
Vacancy rate
11.0%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.18 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
14.9%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.4%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−17%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.7%(11,848)
Black2.1%(325)
Hispanic / Latino19.2%(2,973)
Asian0.8%(123)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic65.2%(9,590)
Black2.2%(325)
Hispanic / Latino26.8%(3,945)
Asian1.2%(171)
Other4.7%(686)
Diversity Score
63
+19%since 2009
from 53 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican23.2%(3,417)
Puerto Rican1.4%(202)
Spaniard1%(140)
Guatemalan0.5%(73)
Cuban0.3%(38)
Dominican0.2%(26)
Asian origin
Filipino0.8%(123)
Chinese0.2%(25)
Burmese0.1%(21)
Ancestry
German25.3%(3,725)
Irish12.7%(1,876)
English11%(1,618)
American4.4%(642)
Italian3.1%(463)
Polish2.9%(421)
Norwegian2.5%(373)
Swedish1.8%(267)
Dutch1.8%(264)
Scottish1.5%(222)
Danish1.1%(168)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
French1%(152)
Nigerian0.8%(124)
Swiss0.8%(117)
Russian0.7%(99)
Greek0.4%(53)
Iranian0.3%(48)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(44)
Lithuanian0.3%(43)
Belgian0.2%(35)
British0.2%(31)
Welsh0.1%(21)
Romanian0.1%(20)
Portuguese0.1%(14)
Bulgarian0.1%(10)
Hungarian0.1%(10)
Czech0.1%(9)
Ukrainian0.1%(9)
Finnish0%(7)
Arab0%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.1%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.8%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.1%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.1 min
+54%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.8%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 63.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
81.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 79.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
17.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 11.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.7%
+10.1 ptssince 2017
from 76.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.0%
+7.3 ptssince 2020
from 86.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
94.1%
+9.4 ptssince 2020
from 84.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.6%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 87.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 10.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married43.4%(2,614)
Married43.8%(2,637)
Widowed4.2%(251)
Divorced8.7%(521)
Women 15+
Never married31.3%(1,956)
Married42.4%(2,645)
Widowed11%(685)
Divorced15.3%(956)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.9%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 11.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
56.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 58.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 11.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
23.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 21.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
21.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 22.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 3.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
68.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 68.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
43.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 41.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)11.7%(125)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.7%(211)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era42.4%(454)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War12.1%(130)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.4%(4)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,071 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Sterling, decade by decade

Sterling population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199015,132$61,528$102,72313.0%36.4
200015,451$68,611$128,79112.1%46.8
201015,370$56,369$121,99117.7%55.2
202014,764$56,349$108,96216.8%62.4
202414,717$57,350$108,70021.1%62.6

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Sterling

Orange City
Pop 15,309
Elfers
Pop 15,006
Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace
Pop 14,755
Milford
Pop 14,723
Places similar to Sterling
Head to head

Compare Sterling to nearby cities

STERLING VS
Rock Falls
Income$49,600−14%
Home value$83,900−23%
Population8,521−41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Dixon
Income$59,406+4%
Home value$120,800+11%
Population14,582+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Clinton
Income$60,230+5%
Home value$118,200+9%
Population24,049+67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Rochelle
Income$66,307+16%
Home value$164,300+51%
Population9,498−34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, Illinois?

Sterling, Illinois has about 14,717 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, Illinois?

The typical household in Sterling, Illinois earns about $57,350 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, Illinois expensive?

In Sterling, Illinois, the median home is worth about $108,700, and the typical rent is about $859 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, Illinois?

About 21.1% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, Illinois?

About 15.3% of people in Sterling, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 415 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →