The Town FilesSterling, Illinois
City in Whiteside County · population 14,764 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,700
- Household income
- $57,350
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 42.6
Sterling is a city of 14,764 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $108,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 92% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 90% of Illinois towns.
How Sterling ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sterling is worth $108,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $57,350, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sterling | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $859 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,350 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Sterling
| People | Sterling | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Sterling
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1962 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 18, 1975.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Sterling itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Sterling
11 public schools with 3,228 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling High School | 9-12 | 996 | 18.8 |
| Challand Middle School | 6-8 | 718 | 16.0 |
| Jefferson Elem School | PK-2 | 422 | 15.6 |
| Franklin Elem School | PK-2 | 413 | 15.9 |
| Washington Elem School | 3-5 | 374 | 13.9 |
| Lincoln Elem School | 3-5 | 305 | 14.5 |
| Bi-County-K-2 Life Skills-Dillon | Other | — | — |
| Whiteside Area Career | 11-12 | — | — |
| Bi-County-3-5 LIfe Skills-Merrill | Other | — | — |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Transition Life S | Other | — | — |
| Bi-County SpEd HS | Other | — | — |
Towns near Sterling
- Rock Falls, IL1.9 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
- Dixon, IL11.6 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
- Morrison, IL13.7 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
- Mount Morris, IL22.0 mi · 2,861 people · home $121,800
- Oregon, IL23.7 mi · 3,604 people · home $142,600
- Fulton, IL24.3 mi · 3,647 people · home $121,700
- Clinton, IA28.3 mi · 24,469 people · home $118,200
- Camanche, IA29.9 mi · 4,570 people · home $172,400
Sterling questions
Is Sterling, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sterling scores better for retirees than 27% of Illinois towns and quieter than 26%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Sterling?
The median owner-occupied home in Sterling is valued at $108,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,350, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Sterling?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does Sterling get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1962. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)