Sterling

Population: 14,670
Median household income: $52,647
Median home value: $107,800

Located in Whiteside County, Illinois, Sterling is a community with a population of 14,670. Its median household income of $52,647 runs below the Whiteside County figure of $64,536.

Between 2019 and 2023, Sterling's population held roughly steady from 14,782 to 14,670, while its median home value rose 22.4% from $88,100 to $107,800.

74.9% of workers drive to work alone. 69.1% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 14,670
Median age: 42.6 yrs
Median household income: $52,647
Median home value: $107,800
Median gross rent: $780
Housing units: 7,385
Homeownership rate: 61.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.5%
Unemployment rate: 4.8%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

14,78214,670

Median household income

$43,685$52,647

Median home value

$88,100$107,800

Median gross rent

$675$780

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	14,782	$43,685	$88,100	$675
2020	14,774	$46,491	$89,900	$698
2021	14,919	$47,778	$92,100	$727
2022	14,852	$49,007	$102,400	$757
2023	14,670	$52,647	$107,800	$780

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 54.7%

5 to 1715.0%

18 to 2410.5%

25 to 3411.0%

35 to 4412.8%

45 to 5412.5%

55 to 6411.3%

65 to 7412.7%

75 and over9.5%

	Count	Share
Under 5	687	4.7%
5 to 17	2,204	15.0%
18 to 24	1,537	10.5%
25 to 34	1,621	11.0%
35 to 44	1,885	12.8%
45 to 54	1,828	12.5%
55 to 64	1,657	11.3%
65 to 74	1,862	12.7%
75 and over	1,389	9.5%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	9,871	67.3%
Black or African American	215	1.5%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	180	1.2%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	24	0.2%
Two or more races	598	4.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,782	25.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma9.5%

High school graduate38.5%

Some college or associate's33.5%

Bachelor's degree9.9%

Graduate or professional degree8.6%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	977	9.5%
High school graduate	3,948	38.5%
Some college or associate's	3,426	33.5%
Bachelor's degree	1,012	9.9%
Graduate or professional degree	879	8.6%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 18 min

Drove alone74.9%

Carpooled12.0%

Public transit0.4%

Walked6.9%

Bicycle2.3%

Worked from home3.3%

Other means0.2%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	5,304	74.9%
Carpooled	848	12.0%
Public transit	27	0.4%
Walked	489	6.9%
Bicycle	163	2.3%
Worked from home	235	3.3%
Other means	11	0.2%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,855	56.3%
15 to 29 min	1,858	27.2%
30 to 44 min	527	7.7%
45 to 59 min	199	2.9%
60+ min	403	5.9%

Households

Average household size: 2.15
Poverty rate: 16.4% (2,353 of 14,344)

	Count	Share
Family households	3,468	52.1%
Nonfamily households	3,191	47.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1957

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	6,659	90.2%
Vacant	726	9.8%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	4,112	61.8%
Renter-occupied	2,547	38.2%

1-unit, detached69.1%

1-unit, attached1.4%

2 to 4 units15.3%

5 to 19 units6.4%

20 or more units7.1%

Mobile home & other0.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	5,100	69.1%
1-unit, attached	104	1.4%
2 to 4 units	1,130	15.3%
5 to 19 units	469	6.4%
20 or more units	521	7.1%
Mobile home & other	61	0.8%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1772546
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 5.95 sq mi
Water area: 0.22 sq mi
Center point: 41.7997, -89.6959