Sterling, IL
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Sterling, Illinois Summary

Life in Sterling research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Sterling over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Sterling:

  • The population in Sterling is 14,670.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $137,658.

  • The median income in Sterling is $52,647.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 81 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Sterling is $780.

  • The unemployment rate in Sterling is 4.8%.

  • The poverty rate in Sterling is 16.4%.

  • The average high in Sterling is 59.5° and the average low is 39.1°.

Sterling SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
6
Commute
9.5

Sterling, IL Crime Report

Crime in Sterling summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Sterling. Key points include:

  • There were 238 total crimes in Sterling in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Sterling is 1,652.8 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Sterling is 319.4 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Sterling is 1,333.3 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Sterling is -22.01% below the national average.

238
Total Crimes
-22.01%
Below National Average

Crime In Sterling Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Sterling
/ 100k People
Illinois
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 238 1,652.8 2,004.4 2,119.2
Violent Crime 46 319.4 289.2 359.0
Murder 3 20.8 5.8 5.0
Robbery 3 20.8 90.2 61.0
Aggravated Assault 26 180.6 146.3 256.0
Property Crime 192 1,333.3 1,715.2 1,760.0
Burglary 48 333.3 290.5 229.0
Larceny 121 840.3 1,134.4 1,272.0
Car Theft 23 159.7 290.4 259.0

Sterling, IL Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Sterling summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Sterling. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Illinois. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 81 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $137,658.

  • The median income in Sterling is $52,647.

81
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Sterling Comparison Table

Living Expense Sterling Illinois National Average
Overall 81 97 100
Services 90 95 100
Groceries 96 99 100
Health 101 93 100
Housing 57 95 100
Transportation 111 102 100
Utilities 85 91 100

Sterling, IL Weather

  • The average high in Sterling is 59.5° and the average low is 39.1°.

  • There are 67.3 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 36.5 inches of precipitation each year with 29.7 inches of snow.

StatSterling
Average Annual High59.5
Average Annual Low39.1
Annual Precipitation Days67.3
Average Annual Precipitation36.5
Average Annual Snowfall29.7
59.5°
Average High
67.3
Days of Rain

Sterling, IL Photos

Sterling Il Brick Road
Source: Wikipedia User IvoShandor | GFDL

Rankings for Sterling in Illinois

Locations Around Sterling

Map Of Sterling, IL

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Sterling Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Sterling

The current population in Sterling is 14,670. The population has decreased -5.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 14,670 -1.2%
2022 14,852 -0.4%
2021 14,919 1.0%
2020 14,774 -0.1%
2019 14,782 -0.2%
2018 14,810 -0.9%
2017 14,948 -0.8%
2016 15,071 -0.7%
2015 15,170 -0.2%
2014 15,208 -0.7%
2013 15,314 -0.3%
2012 15,367 -0.5%
2011 15,443 -0.0%
2010 15,450 -

Race / Ethnicity in Sterling

White
67.3% (9,871)
African American
1.5% (215)
American Indian
0.0% (0)
Asian
1.2% (180)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.2% (24)
Two Or More
4.1% (598)
Hispanic
25.8% (3,782)

Sterling is:

  • 67.3% White with 9,871 White residents.

  • 1.5% African American with 215 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 0 American Indian residents.

  • 1.2% Asian with 180 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 24 Other residents.

  • 4.1% Two Or More with 598 Two Or More residents.

  • 25.8% Hispanic with 3,782 Hispanic residents.

Race Sterling IL USA
White 67.3% 58.7% 58.2%
African American 1.5% 13.6% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 1.2% 5.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.3% 0.5%
Two Or More 4.1% 3.0% 3.9%
Hispanic 25.8% 18.5% 19.0%

Gender in Sterling

Female
48.7% (7,145)
Male
51.3% (7,524)
  • Sterling is 48.7% female with 7,145 female residents.

  • Sterling is 51.3% male with 7,524 male residents.

Gender Sterling IL USA
Female 48.7% 50.6% 50.5%
Male 51.3% 49.4% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Sterling for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Sterling completed < 9th grade.

  • 6.0% of adults in Sterling completed 9-12th grade.

  • 39.0% of adults in Sterling completed high school / ged.

  • 23.0% of adults in Sterling completed some college.

  • 11.0% of adults in Sterling completed associate's degree.

  • 10.0% of adults in Sterling completed bachelor's degree.

  • 8.0% of adults in Sterling completed master's degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Sterling completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Sterling completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (293)
9-12th Grade
6.0% (880)
High School / GED
39.0% (5,721)
Some College
23.0% (3,374)
Associate's Degree
11.0% (1,613)
Bachelor's Degree
10.0% (1,467)
Master's Degree
8.0% (1,173)
Professional Degree
0.0% (0)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (146)
Education Sterling IL USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 5.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 6.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 39.0% 25.0% 26.0%
Some College 23.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 11.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 10.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 8.0% 11.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Sterling, Illinois

  • 6.5% of households in Sterling earn Less than $10,000.

  • 6.5% of households in Sterling earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 9.9% of households in Sterling earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.1% of households in Sterling earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 16.5% of households in Sterling earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 17.2% of households in Sterling earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 10.6% of households in Sterling earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.6% of households in Sterling earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 4.9% of households in Sterling earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 3.3% of households in Sterling earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
6.5% (95,171)
$10,000 to $14,999
6.5% (95,391)
$15,000 to $24,999
9.9% (144,518)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.1% (133,063)
$35,000 to $49,999
16.5% (241,672)
$50,000 to $74,999
17.2% (251,806)
$75,000 to $99,999
10.6% (155,754)
$100,000 to $149,999
15.6% (229,335)
$150,000 to $199,999
4.9% (72,479)
$200,000 or more
3.3% (47,805)
Income Sterling IL USA
Less than $10,000 6.5% 5.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 6.5% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 9.9% 6.2% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.1% 6.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 16.5% 9.9% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 17.2% 15.1% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 10.6% 12.7% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.6% 17.9% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.9% 9.9% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 3.3% 13.1% 12.6%

Articles About Illinois

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