Sterling

County:: Whiteside County
County Seat:: No
Area (mi²):: 5.946
State:: Illinois

Sterling is a city located in Whiteside County, Illinois. Sterling has a 2025 population of 14,287. Sterling is currently declining at a rate of -0.76% annually and its population has decreased by -3.72% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 14,839 in 2020.

The average household income in Sterling is $75,895 with a poverty rate of 16.4%. The median age in Sterling is 42.6 years: 37.6 years for males, and 44.9 years for females.

Demographics

The racial composition of Sterling includes 79.37% White, 3.75% other race, and smaller percentages for Black or African American, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

White

Two or more races

Other race

Black or African American

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Race	Population	Percentage (of total)
White	11,643	79.37%
Two or more races	1,962	13.37%
Other race	550	3.75%
Black or African American	243	1.66%
Asian	193	1.32%
Native American	79	0.54%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	0	0%

Sterling Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

Never Married

Economics and Income Statistics

Sterling's average per capita income is $43,218. Household income levels show a median of $52,647. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.

Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.

Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.

Name	Median	Mean
Married Families	$94,647	-
Families	$70,737	$97,083
Households	$52,647	$75,895
Non Families	$29,956	$48,263

$43,218

Average Income

$52,647

Median Household Income

16.4%

Poverty Rate