CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Sterling Micro

Sterling, IL · 1 counties · 55,691 residents · 684.099 sq mi
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The short version

Sterling has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $57,172. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $107,800. With a median age of 44.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 5%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
55,691
−8%since 2000
from 60,653 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
81 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 89 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
44.4
+15%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K58K60K61K1990201020202024Sterling
202455K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.3%(2,958)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(3,287)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(3,570)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.3%(3,521)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(2,870)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.8%(6,020)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.8%(6,033)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.2%(6,781)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.9%(8,319)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.4%(6,924)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.7%(3,734)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3%(1,674)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,172
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,354 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,185
+62%since 2000
from $19,296 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.1%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade20.8%
US avg: 10%
Information11.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,800
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$711
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $463 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.5% in 2000
26.4% rent
Afford Score
1.9
−14%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic81.4%(45,341)
Black1.3%(741)
Hispanic / Latino12.8%(7,131)
Asian0.5%(306)
Other1.9%(1,039)
Segregation Score
44
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican9.7%(5,388)
Puerto Rican1.6%(914)
Guatemalan0.2%(100)
Spaniard0.1%(70)
Cuban0.1%(28)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(166)
Asian Indian0.2%(103)
Chinese0.1%(52)
Laotian0%(18)
Korean0%(5)
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0.1%(41)
Samoan0%(24)
Ancestry
German27.7%(15,392)
Irish12.7%(7,059)
American10.7%(5,972)
English8.3%(4,595)
Dutch6.9%(3,823)
Italian2.9%(1,595)
Swedish2.5%(1,401)
Polish2.4%(1,316)
French1.8%(1,002)
Scottish1.5%(859)
Norwegian1.2%(669)
British0.9%(475)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.8%(459)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(453)
Belgian0.8%(423)
Czech0.3%(188)
Welsh0.3%(182)
Swiss0.3%(167)
Portuguese0.3%(155)
Hungarian0.3%(148)
Lithuanian0.2%(138)
Russian0.2%(120)
Austrian0.2%(118)
Greek0.2%(115)
Serbian0.1%(79)
Slovak0.1%(65)
Romanian0.1%(63)
Canadian0.1%(39)
Iranian0.1%(35)
Ukrainian0.1%(35)
Finnish0.1%(34)
Israeli0.1%(34)
Nigerian0%(22)
Croatian0%(21)
Bulgarian0%(18)
Armenian0%(11)
Arab0%(8)
Slovene0%(8)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.9%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.3%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.2 min
+55%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
27.9%
−31.1 ptssince 2009
from 59.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.4%
−84.0 ptssince 2013
from 89.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married34.9%(7,793)
Married50.2%(11,199)
Widowed3.7%(832)
Divorced11.2%(2,494)
Women 15+
Never married26.1%(5,944)
Married48.9%(11,121)
Widowed11.1%(2,530)
Divorced13.8%(3,138)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

SterlingCENTRAL14,394Rock Falls8,521Morrison3,945Fulton3,540Prophetstown1,887Erie1,484Albany838Tampico668Como535Lyndon526Galt213Coleta159Deer Grove39
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$67,370+18%
Home value$166,700+55%
Population55,584+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Kerrville
Income$69,395+21%
Home value$321,200+198%
Population54,037same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Gloversville
Income$66,533+16%
Home value$163,100+51%
Population52,216−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Enterprise
Income$68,353+20%
Home value$188,600+75%
Population56,953+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, IL?

Sterling, IL has about 55,691 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, IL?

The typical household in Sterling, IL earns about $57,172 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 $107,800, and the typical rent is about $711 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, IL?

About 18.9% 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 9.8% 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 4,495 residents, a change of about -7 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 →