Sterling Population History 1990 - 2023

Sterling Population Facts

What is the current population of Sterling?

Based on the latest 2024 data from the US census, the current population of Sterling is 14,508. Sterling, Illinois is the 2,428th largest city in the US.

What county is Sterling, Illinois in?

Sterling is located entirely in Whiteside County.

What is the size of Sterling, Illinois in square miles?

Sterling has an area of 5.7 square miles.

What was the peak population of Sterling?

The peak population of Sterling was in 2000, when its population was 15,802. In 2000, Sterling was the 1,917th largest city in the US; now its fallen to the 2,428th largest city in the US. Sterling is currently 8.2% smaller than it was in 2000.

How quickly is Sterling shrinking?

Sterling has shrunk 8.1% since the year 2000. Sterling, Illinois's growth is extremely below average. 93% of similarly sized cities are growing faster since 2000.

What is the population density of Sterling, Illinois?

Sterling has a population density of 2,692.2 people per square mile.

Sterling Demographics

What is the voting age population of Sterling, Illinois?

The total voting age population of Sterling, Illinois, meaning US citizens 18 or older, is 10,669. The voting age population is 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois residents are senior citizens?

According to the latest census statistics, 18.5% of the residents of Sterling are 65 or older.

What are the racial demographics of Sterling, Illinois?

The racial demographics of Sterling are 88.3% White, 4.6% Two or more races, 3.2% Black, 2.2% Other, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% American Indian and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Additionally, 27.2% of the population identifies as Hispanic.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois residents are below the poverty line?

In Sterling, 13.8% of residents have an income below the poverty line, and the child poverty rate is 19.8%. On a per-household basis, 8.8% of families are below the poverty line in Sterling.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois residents are in the labor force?

Among those aged 16 and older, 62.3% of Sterling residents are in the labor force.

What are the education levels among Sterling, Illinois residents?

Among the adult population 25 years old and over, 87.2% of Sterling residents have at least a high school degree or equivalent, 15.7% have a bachelor's degree and 6.3% have a graduate or professional degree.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois residents speak a non-English language at home?

Among Sterling residents aged 5 and older, 14.3% of them speak a non-English language at home. Broken down by language: 11.7% of residents speak Spanish at home, 0.6% speak an Indo-European language, and 1.5% speak an Asian language.

Sterling Income & Labor Statistics

What is the unemployment rate in Sterling, Illinois?

The unemployment rate in Sterling is 4.1%, which is calculated among residents aged 16 or older who are in the labor force.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois residents work for the government?

In Sterling, 13.3% of the residents in the non-military labor force are employed by the local, state and federal government.

What is the median income in Sterling, Illinois?

The median household income in Sterling is $43,685.

Sterling Housing & Rent Statistics

What percentage of housing units are owner-occupied in Sterling, Illinois?

In Sterling, 60.3% of housing units are occupied by their owners.

What percentage of housing units are rented in Sterling, Illinois?

Renters occupy 39.7% of housing units in Sterling.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois housing units were built before 1940?

Of all the housing units in Sterling, 27.4% of them were build before 1940.

What percentage of Sterling, Illinois housing units were built after 2000?

In Sterling, 6.6% of the total housing units were built after the year 2000, which is approximately 460 units.

What is the median monthly rent in Sterling, Illinois?

The median gross monthly rent payment for renters in Sterling is $675.

What percentage of households in Sterling, Illinois have broadband internet?

In Sterling, 78.3% of households have an active broadband internet connection.