Living in Sterling, Illinois
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Sterling · Census data 2020–2024
Sterling has 14,717 residents with a median age of 42.6. The median household income is $57,350 (31% lower than the Illinois median), the median home value is $108,700, the median rent is $859/month.
Sterling at a glance
- Population
- 14,717
- Median age
- 42.6State: 39
- Median household income
- $57,350State: $83,390
- Median home value
- $108,700State: $263,300
- Median rent
- $859/moState: $1,274
- Homeowners
- 65.1%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21.1%
- Average commute
- 18 min
Is Sterling a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 59% lower than the state median; an average commute of 18 minutes; unemployment of 3.8%.
Cons: Median household income 31% lower than the Illinois median; a poverty rate of 15.3%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Sterling
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Sterling the median home value is $108,700, 67% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $859 per month, which is 27.7% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,147 a month in housing costs.
Sterling median household income
The median household income in Sterling is $57,350 and the income per person is $36,040. 15.3% of residents live below the poverty line (Illinois: 11.8%).
Housing in Sterling: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 7,393
- Owner-occupied
- 65.1%
- Renter-occupied
- 34.9%
- Vacant
- 11%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1957
- Average household size
- 2.18
Sterling demographics
- Population
- 14,717
- Median age
- 42.6
- Under 18
- 20.4%
- 65 and older
- 21.9%
- Households
- 6,579
- Foreign-born
- 5.4%
- Veterans
- 9.1%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Sterling ›
Education in Sterling
21.1% of adults 25 and older in Sterling have a bachelor's degree or higher (Illinois: 37.8%), and 9.1% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Sterling
- Unemployment rate
- 3.8%State: 5.8%
- Average commute
- 18 minState: 28 min
- Work from home
- 5.8%
- Drive alone
- 78.6%
- Public transit
- 0.3%
- Walk to work
- 4.6%
- Homes with broadband
- 86.7%
Sterling vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | 14,717 | $57,350 | $108,700 | $859 |
| Rock Falls | 8,587 | $49,600 | $83,900 | $754 |
| Galt | 213 | $112,569 | — | — |
| Como | 535 | $63,750 | $175,700 | — |
| Nelson | 125 | $39,250 | $86,300 | — |
| Coleta | 169 | $56,875 | $111,800 | $925 |
| Harmon | 100 | $66,250 | $151,800 | — |
| Dixon | 14,910 | $59,406 | $120,800 | $912 |
| Milledgeville | 1,218 | $59,417 | $94,200 | $513 |
More for people moving to Sterling
Sterling ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Sterling: FAQ
What is the median household income in Sterling, IL?
The median household income in Sterling is $57,350, 31% lower than the Illinois median of $83,390 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Sterling?
The median home value in Sterling is $108,700, compared with $263,300 in Illinois.
How much is rent in Sterling?
The median gross rent in Sterling is $859 per month, about 27.7% of household income.
Is Sterling, IL a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 59% lower than the state median; an average commute of 18 minutes; unemployment of 3.8%. Minuses: median household income 31% lower than the Illinois median; a poverty rate of 15.3%.
What is the median age in Sterling?
The median age in Sterling is 42.6 years (Illinois: 39).
How long is the commute in Sterling?
The average commute to work in Sterling is 18 minutes; 5.8% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Sterling?
The unemployment rate in Sterling is 3.8% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Sterling?
21.1% of adults in Sterling have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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