Sterling city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sterling city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 14,670. It ranks as the 168th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sterling city is 42.6 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sterling city is $52,647. This is 36% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $107,800. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Sterling city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sterling city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 25.8%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

18.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sterling city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.