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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Sterling Micro

Sterling, IL · 1 counties · 54,121 residents (2025 est.) · 684.099 sq mi
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The short version

Sterling has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,500. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $127,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 8%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
54,947
−9%since 2000
from 60,653 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
80 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 89 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.0
+12%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:54,121 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K58K60K61K1990201020202024Sterling
202455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,500
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,354 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,312
+93%since 2000
from $19,296 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.1%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+7%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$127,100
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$856
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $463 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.5% in 2000
23.1% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.6%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
22
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.9%(53,946)
Black1%(577)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(5,347)
Asian0.4%(247)
Other0%
Diversity Score23.3%(14,158)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.9%(44,454)
Black1.2%(668)
Hispanic / Latino13.3%(7,319)
Asian0.5%(275)
Other4.1%(2,231)
Diversity Score40.7%(22,384)
Segregation Score35.2%(19,338)
Diversity Score
41
+75%since 2000
from 23 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−19%since 2020
from 44 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+56%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.9%
−26.1 ptssince 2009
from 59.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−84.4 ptssince 2013
from 89.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.7%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 75.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 5.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

SterlingCENTRAL14,394
What's inside

1 component county

Whiteside CountyCENTRAL54,121
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Sterling

Fairmont
Pop 55,584
Kerrville
Pop 54,037
Gloversville
Pop 52,216
Enterprise
Pop 56,953
Places similar to Sterling
Head to head

Compare Sterling side by side

STERLING VS
Fairmont
Income$67,370same
Home value$166,700+31%
Population55,584+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Kerrville
Income$69,395+3%
Home value$321,200+153%
Population54,037same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Gloversville
Income$66,533−1%
Home value$163,100+28%
Population52,216−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Enterprise
Income$68,353+1%
Home value$188,600+48%
Population56,953+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, IL?

Sterling, IL has about 54,947 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, IL?

The typical household in Sterling, IL earns about $67,500 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, IL expensive?

In Sterling, IL, the median home is worth about $127,100, and the typical rent is about $856 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, IL?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, IL?

About 12.0% of people in Sterling, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, IL has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,239 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →