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Sterling, Illinois

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Current weather forecast for Sterling, IL

Population in 2022: 14,566 (100% urban, 0% rural).
Population change since 2000: -5.7%
 
Males: 7,559  (51.9%)
Females: 7,007  (48.1%)
Median resident age:

43.4 years
Illinois median age:

39.1 years

Zip codes: 61037.

Estimated median household income in 2022: $47,929 (it was $37,664 in 2000)
Sterling:

$47,929
IL:

$76,708

Estimated per capita income in 2022: $31,445 (it was $19,432 in 2000)

Sterling city income, earnings, and wages data

Estimated median house or condo value in 2022: $107,753 (it was $70,700 in 2000)
Sterling:

$107,753
IL:

$251,600

Mean prices in 2022: all housing units: $173,895; detached houses: $172,084; townhouses or other attached units: $233,852; in 2-unit structures: $250,532; in 3-to-4-unit structures: $214,512; in 5-or-more-unit structures: $178,643; mobile homes: $93,566

Median gross rent in 2022: $751.

March 2022 cost of living index in Sterling: 75.3 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2022: 15.1%
(13.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 26.2% for Black residents, 12.7% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 10.8% for other race residents, 24.3% for two or more races residents)
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  • Races in Sterling, IL (2022)
    • 9,46164.6%White alone
    • 3,99627.3%Hispanic
    • 7865.4%Two or more races
    • 2731.9%Black alone
    • 2081.4%Asian alone
    • 180.1%Native Hawaiian and Other
      Pacific Islander alone
    • 130.09%Other race alone

Races in Sterling detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth



According to our research of Illinois and other state lists, there were 48 registered sex offenders living in Sterling, Illinois as of May 04, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Sterling is 313 to 1.


Crime rates in Sterling by year

Type

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022
Murders
(per 100,000)		1
(6.6)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		1
(6.6)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		1
(6.9)		3
(20.9)		0
(0.0)
Rapes
(per 100,000)		0
(0.0)		18
(117.1)		17
(110.3)		17
(110.3)		9
(59.3)		11
(72.9)		19
(127.4)		14
(93.4)		14
(94.4)		25
(170.4)		13
(89.6)		21
(146.2)		25
(170.3)
Robberies
(per 100,000)		7
(46.5)		2
(13.0)		5
(32.4)		4
(25.9)		2
(13.2)		2
(13.3)		7
(47.0)		5
(33.4)		3
(20.2)		3
(20.4)		3
(20.7)		3
(20.9)		3
(20.4)
Assaults
(per 100,000)		35
(232.5)		29
(188.7)		21
(136.2)		21
(136.2)		14
(92.2)		19
(126.0)		13
(87.2)		20
(133.5)		16
(107.9)		6
(40.9)		9
(62.0)		11
(76.6)		23
(156.7)
Burglaries
(per 100,000)		141
(936.8)		119
(774.2)		136
(882.2)		85
(551.3)		84
(553.3)		87
(576.8)		71
(476.2)		48
(320.4)		74
(499.2)		42
(286.2)		45
(310.1)		62
(431.7)		25
(170.3)
Thefts
(per 100,000)		570
(3,787)		515
(3,351)		662
(4,294)		503
(3,263)		514
(3,385)		448
(2,970)		473
(3,173)		449
(2,997)		454
(3,063)		373
(2,542)		416
(2,867)		376
(2,618)		182
(1,240)
Auto thefts
(per 100,000)		35
(232.5)		18
(117.1)		23
(149.2)		15
(97.3)		14
(92.2)		13
(86.2)		14
(93.9)		14
(93.4)		31
(209.1)		21
(143.1)		30
(206.8)		32
(222.8)		19
(129.4)
Arson
(per 100,000)		5
(33.2)		3
(19.5)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		1
(6.6)		4
(26.5)		2
(13.4)		3
(20.0)		3
(20.2)		1
(6.8)		3
(20.7)		1
(7.0)		0
(0.0)
City-Data.com crime index309.4332.9370.7300.1251.3266.8301.2261.2277.4283.8257.0333.1245.6

The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 246.1. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.

Click on a table row to update graph
City-data.com crime index in Sterling, IL

Crime rate in Sterling detailed stats: murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, arson

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2020, including police officers: 34 (27 officers - 24 male; 3 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.88
Illinois average:

3.04
Recent articles from our blog. Our writers, many of them Ph.D. graduates or candidates, create easy-to-read articles on a wide variety of topics.
Sterling, IL forum
Recent posts about Sterling, Illinois on our local forum with over 2,400,000 registered users. Sterling is mentioned 390 times on our forum:
Chicken Joint near Sterling IL  (6 replies)
Dominos are starting to fall. Crime in the city leading to billionaires and businesses relocating  (213 replies)
Chicago Economy thread  (36 replies)
Living near the Rock River  (3 replies)
Moving from South Al to Illinois...Sterling, Rock Fall, or Morrision  (5 replies)
Utterly amazing what's going on in a town literally everybody is abandoning  (105 replies)

Latest news from Sterling, IL collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: German (25.6%), American (7.2%), Irish (6.3%), European (3.3%), English (2.8%), Polish (2.4%).

Current Local Time: CST time zone

Incorporated on 06/02/1884

Elevation: 660 feet

Land area: 4.67 square miles.

Population density: 3,118 people per square mile   (average).

Sterling, Illinois map

772 residents are foreign born (2.8% Latin America, 1.3% Asia, 0.6% Europe).

This city:

5.3%
Illinois:

14.1%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2022: $2,499 (2.3%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2022: $2,142 (2.0%)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Rockford, IL (45.8 miles , pop. 150,115).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Madison, WI (89.7 miles , pop. 208,054).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Chicago, IL (103.9 miles , pop. 2,896,016).

Nearest cities:

Rock Falls, IL (1.2 miles ),
Como, IL (2.1 miles ),
Nelson, IL (2.1 miles),
Harmon, IL (3.0 miles),
Coleta, IL (3.1 miles),
Dixon, IL (3.4 miles ),
Milledgeville, IL (3.5 miles ),
Tampico, IL (3.5 miles )

Latitude: 41.80 N, Longitude: 89.69 W

Daytime population change due to commuting: +1,702 (+11.6%)
Workers who live and work in this city: 3,002 (42.6%)

Area code: 815

Distribution of median household income in Sterling, IL in 2022
Distribution of house value in Sterling, IL in 2022
Sterling satellite photo by USGS

Single-family new house construction building permits:

  • 2021: 1 building, cost: $235,000
  • 2019: 2 buildings, average cost: $188,300
  • 2018: 3 buildings, average cost: $126,300
  • 2017: 5 buildings, average cost: $133,600
  • 2016: 4 buildings, average cost: $160,000
  • 2015: 6 buildings, average cost: $137,100
  • 2014: 3 buildings, average cost: $216,800
  • 2013: 2 buildings, average cost: $103,100
  • 2012: 2 buildings, average cost: $202,000
  • 2011: 12 buildings, average cost: $148,400
  • 2010: 4 buildings, average cost: $160,500
  • 2009: 1 building, cost: $190,000
  • 2008: 2 buildings, average cost: $107,500
  • 2007: 3 buildings, average cost: $111,900
  • 2006: 5 buildings, average cost: $117,100
  • 2005: 10 buildings, average cost: $76,100
  • 2004: 18 buildings, average cost: $108,100
  • 2003: 7 buildings, average cost: $98,300
  • 2002: 4 buildings, average cost: $95,100
  • 2001: 8 buildings, average cost: $67,000
  • 2000: 25 buildings, average cost: $99,000
  • 1999: 6 buildings, average cost: $135,300
  • 1998: 5 buildings, average cost: $78,500
  • 1997: 15 buildings, average cost: $103,800
Number of permits per 10,000 Sterling, IL residents
Average permit cost in Sterling, IL
Unemployment in December 2023:
Here:

4.3%
Illinois:

4.2%
Historical population in Sterling, IL
Historical housing units in Sterling, IL

Population change in the 1990s: +124 (+0.8%).
Most common industries in Sterling, IL (%)
Both Males Females
Most common industries in 2000
  • Metal & metal products (15.3%)
  • Health care (12.1%)
  • Accommodation & food services (6.4%)
  • Educational services (5.0%)
  • Construction (4.2%)
  • Department & other general merchandise stores (3.9%)
  • Public administration (3.4%)
Most common industries for males in 2000
  • Metal & metal products (22.8%)
  • Construction (7.5%)
  • Accommodation & food services (4.9%)
  • Public administration (4.4%)
  • Health care (3.7%)
  • Miscellaneous manufacturing (3.4%)
  • Food (3.1%)
Most common industries for females in 2000
  • Health care (20.9%)
  • Educational services (8.0%)
  • Accommodation & food services (7.9%)
  • Metal & metal products (7.5%)
  • Department & other general merchandise stores (5.0%)
  • Social assistance (4.5%)
  • Electrical equipment, appliances, components (4.3%)
Most common occupations in Sterling, IL (%)
Both Males Females
Most common occupations in 2000
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (7.0%)
  • Other production occupations, including supervisors (5.4%)
  • Assemblers and fabricators (4.5%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4.4%)
  • Laborers and material movers, hand (3.8%)
  • Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (3.8%)
  • Retail sales workers, except cashiers (3.4%)
Most common occupations for males in 2000
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (10.0%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5.9%)
  • Other production occupations, including supervisors (5.9%)
  • Laborers and material movers, hand (5.6%)
  • Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (4.5%)
  • Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (3.9%)
  • Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (3.7%)
Most common occupations for females in 2000
  • Assemblers and fabricators (5.5%)
  • Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (5.1%)
  • Other production occupations, including supervisors (5.0%)
  • Health technologists and technicians (4.9%)
  • Secretaries and administrative assistants (4.3%)
  • Retail sales workers, except cashiers (4.1%)
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (3.9%)

Average climate in Sterling, Illinois

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Sterling, Illinois average temperatures Sterling, Illinois average precipitation Sterling, Illinois humidity Sterling, Illinois wind speed Sterling, Illinois snowfall Sterling, Illinois sunshine Sterling, Illinois clear and cloudy days

Sterling, Illinois environmental map by EPA

Map Legend

Tornado activity:

Sterling-area historical tornado activity is near Illinois state average. It is 54% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 3/29/1981, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 10.2 miles away from the Sterling city center caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On 8/5/1979, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 14.5 miles away from the city center caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity:

Sterling-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Illinois state average. It is 89% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 250.3 miles away from Sterling center
On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 226.8 miles away from the city center
On 6/28/2004 at 06:10:52, a magnitude 4.2 (4.2 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 47.2 miles away from the city center
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi) earthquake occurred 250.3 miles away from Sterling center
On 6/18/2002 at 17:37:15, a magnitude 5.0 (4.3 MB, 4.6 MW, 5.0 LG) earthquake occurred 282.4 miles away from the city center
On 4/18/2008 at 15:14:16, a magnitude 4.8 (4.5 MB, 4.8 MW, 4.6 MW) earthquake occurred 249.6 miles away from Sterling center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters:

The number of natural disasters in Whiteside County (13) is near the US average (15).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 9
Emergencies Declared: 2

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 9, Storms: 7, Snowstorms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Hurricane: 1, Tornado: 1, Wind: 1, Winter Storm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Sterling topographic map

Hospitals in Sterling:

  • CASA WILLIS (910 WOODBURN AVENUE)
  • CGH MEDICAL CENTER (Government - Local, provides emergency services, 100 EAST LEFEVRE ROAD)
  • HAMMETT HOUSE (1845 - 1ST AVENUE)
  • STERN SQUARE (1328 WEST 7TH STREET)

Nursing Homes in Sterling:

  • COVENTRY LIVING CENTER (612 WEST ST MARY'S STREET)
  • EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND TRAINING CTR (2601 WOODLAWN RD)
  • STERLING PAVILION (105 EAST 23RD STREET)
  • TAMMERLANE HEALTH CARE CENTRE (3601 SIXTEENTH AVENUE)

Dialysis Facilities in Sterling:

  • DAVITA - WHITESIDE DIALYSIS (2600 N. LOCUST, SUITE D)

Home Health Centers in Sterling:

  • CGH HOME NURSING (3010 E LYNN BLVD SUITE B)
  • GAFFEY HOME NURSING AND HOSPICE (3408 EAST 23RD STREET)

Airports and heliports located in Sterling:

See details about Airports and heliports located in Sterling, IL

College/University in Sterling:

  • Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling (Full-time enrollment: 61; Location: 211 E Third St; Private, for-profit; Website: www.educatorsofbeauty.com)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Sterling:

  • Ashford University (about 27 miles; Clinton, IA; Full-time enrollment: 73,330)
  • Kishwaukee College (about 44 miles; Malta, IL; FT enrollment: 3,356)
  • Black Hawk College (about 45 miles; Moline, IL; FT enrollment: 5,086)
  • Illinois Valley Community College (about 46 miles; Oglesby, IL; FT enrollment: 2,747)
  • Kaplan University-Davenport Campus (about 48 miles; Davenport, IA; FT enrollment: 60,376)
  • Northern Illinois University (about 49 miles; Dekalb, IL; FT enrollment: 18,126)
  • Augustana College (about 49 miles; Rock Island, IL; FT enrollment: 2,555)

Public high schools in Sterling:

  • STERLING HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,020, Location: 1608 4TH AVE, Grades: 9-12)
  • REGIONAL CENTER FOR CHANGE (Location: 1001 W 23RD ST, Grades: 7-12)

Private high school in Sterling:

  • NEWMAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 262, Location: 1101 W 23RD ST, Grades: 9-12)

Public elementary/middle schools in Sterling:

  • CHALLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 712, Location: 1700 6TH AVE, Grades: 6-8)
  • JEFFERSON ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 427, Location: 806 E LE FEVRE RD, Grades: PK-2)
  • WASHINGTON ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 407, Location: 815 W LE FEVRE RD, Grades: 3-5)
  • FRANKLIN ELEM SCHOOL (Location: 1510 E 25TH ST, Grades: PK-2)
  • LINCOLN ELEM SCHOOL (Location: 1501 E 6TH ST, Grades: 3-5)

Private elementary/middle schools in Sterling:

  • ST MARY SCHOOL & COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 222, Location: 6 W 6TH ST, Grades: PK-8)
  • CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 152, Location: 2000 18TH AVE, Grades: PK-8)
See full list of schools located in Sterling

Library in Sterling:

  • STERLING PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $641,708; Location: 102 WEST THIRD STREET; 54,371 books; 3,146 audio materials; 2,103 video materials; 4 local licensed databases; 17 state licensed databases; 94 other licensed databases; 132 print serial subscriptions)

User-submitted facts and corrections:

  • Hello, In your parks section for Sterling Illinois the Saftey Park is no longer in existence and there is no mention of Sinnissippi Park (the largest park here). Sinnissippi Park has a small bike trail and an 18 hole frisbee golf course along with the usual shelters restrooms and fishing areas. The closest Community College to Sterling is Sauk Valley Community College between Sterling and Dixon Illinois. It is approx. 4 miles from Sterling. As for student population I couldn't tell you.
  • Sauk Valley Community College (About 7 miles, FT enrollment 2,650 students)

Points of interest:

Click to draw/clear city borders

Notable locations in Sterling: Dillon Home Museum (A), Sterling City Hall (B), Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society Museum (C), Sterling Fire Department Headquarters (D), Sterling Fire Department Station 1 (E). Display/hide their locations on the map

Shopping Center: Northland Mall Shopping Center (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Churches in Sterling include: Amazing Grace Assembly of Sterling (A), Bethel Reformed Church (B), Faith Baptist Church (C), First Baptist Church (D), First Church of the Nazarene of Sterling (E), First Congregational Church of Sterling (F), First Open Bible Church (G), First Presbyterian Church (H), First United Methodist Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Parks in Sterling include: Kilgour Park (1), Thomas Park (2), Central Memorial Park (3), Harry Kidd Field (4), Lincoln Park (5), Platt Park (6), Propheter Park (7), Safety Park (8), Wallace Park (9). Display/hide their locations on the map

Tourist attraction: Blackhawk Dart & Pool Shop (Amusement & Theme Parks; 1205 West 4th Street).

Birthplace of: Dan Kolb - 2005 Major League Baseball player (Atlanta Braves, born: Mar 29, 1975), Harry B. Mulliken - Architect, Paul Flory - Chemist, Terry Brooks - Novelist, Berta E. Baker - Politician, John James McDannold - Politician, Richard Benner - Film director, James Douglas Elliott - Federal judge, Keith L. Brown - Diplomat, Roy Clements (director) - Film director.

Whiteside County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Sterling and their reported violations in the past:

SINNISSIPPI PARK (Address: 1913 3RD AVENUE , Population served: 100, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) - Between JAN-2009 and DEC-2009, Contaminant: Coliform (TCR). Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JUL-28-2009)
  • Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) - Between OCT-2005 and DEC-2005, Contaminant: Coliform (TCR). Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (JAN-03-2006)
  • One routine major monitoring violation
MOONLIGHT BAY CAMPGROUND (Population served: 30, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • One routine major monitoring violation
MOONLIGHT BAY MARINA (Population served: 25, Groundwater):
Past health violations:
  • MCL, Single Sample - Between JAN-2008 and DEC-2008, Contaminant: Nitrate. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JUN-23-2008), St Formal NOV issued (JUN-17-2009), St Public Notif requested (JUN-17-2009)
OPPOLD MARINA (Address: 1913 3RD AVENUE , Population served: 25, Groundwater):
Past health violations:
  • MCL, Acute (TCR) - Between APR-2009 and JUN-2009, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAY-26-2010)
LAWRENCE PARK-BRICK STOR SHED (Address: 1913 3RD AVENUE , Population served: 25, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • One regular monitoring violation
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF JORDAN (Population served: 25, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • One routine major monitoring violation
  • One regular monitoring violation

Drinking water stations with addresses in Sterling that have no violations reported:

  • HILLSDALE EXPRESS LANE (Address: 505 E 14TH ST , Population served: 900, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
  • OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN (Population served: 85, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
  • RUFFIT PARK (97121) (Population served: 75, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
  • RUFFIT PARK (16972) (Population served: 50, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
  • SHELL EXPRESS VENDING MACHINE (134882) (Address: 505 E 14TH ST , Population served: 25, Primary Water Source Type: Purch groundwater)
Average household size:
This city:

2.4 people
Illinois:

2.6 people

Percentage of family households:
This city:

60.9%
Whole state:

65.8%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This city:

9.1%
Whole state:

6.3%


Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)
  • Lesbian couples: 0.3% of all households
  • Gay men: 0.1% of all households

People in group quarters in Sterling in 2010:

  • 263 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
  • 72 people in group homes intended for adults
  • 10 people in other noninstitutional facilities

People in group quarters in Sterling in 2000:

  • 245 people in nursing homes
  • 95 people in other nonhousehold living situations
  • 44 people in homes for the mentally retarded
  • 16 people in schools, hospitals, or wards for the intellectually disabled
  • 12 people in other noninstitutional group quarters

Banks with most branches in Sterling (2011 data):

  • Sterling Federal Bank, F.S.B.: Lynn Boulevard Branch at 3200 Lynn Boulevard, branch established on 1997/10/14; Sterling Federal Bank, F.S.b. at 110 E 4th St, branch established on 1885/01/01. Info updated 2011/07/21: Bank assets: $474.7 mil, Deposits: $409.3 mil, local headquarters, negative income in the last year, Mortgage Lending Specialization, 10 total offices
  • Midland States Bank: Sterling Branch at 302 First Avenue, branch established on 1871/01/01. Info updated 2010/10/19: Bank assets: $1,510.0 mil, Deposits: $1,222.1 mil, headquarters in Effingham, IL, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 32 total offices, Holding Company: Midland States Bancorp, Inc.
  • Sauk Valley Bank & Trust Company: at 201 West 3rd Street, branch established on 1999/07/09. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $242.1 mil, Deposits: $202.0 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 3 total offices, Holding Company: Sv Financial, Inc.
  • Centrue Bank: Union Bank/Central at 3512 E Lincolnway Suite B, branch established on 1998/11/17. Info updated 2007/06/27: Bank assets: $964.9 mil, Deposits: $850.6 mil, headquarters in Streator, IL, negative income in the last year, Commercial Lending Specialization, 28 total offices, Holding Company: Centrue Financial Corporation
  • Community State Bank of Rock Falls: Sterling Il Branch at 3210 East Lincolnway, branch established on 2010/02/24. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $244.0 mil, Deposits: $220.5 mil, headquarters in Rock Falls, IL, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 5 total offices, Holding Company: Community Illinois Corporation
  • First Federal Savings Bank: Sterling Branch at 1701 East 4th Street, branch established on 2000/05/15. Info updated 2011/07/21: Bank assets: $398.1 mil, Deposits: $355.1 mil, headquarters in Ottawa, IL, negative income in the last year, Mortgage Lending Specialization, 13 total offices
  • U.S. Bank National Association: Sterling Branch at 305 Fourth Avenue, branch established on 1934/01/26. Info updated 2012/01/30: Bank assets: $330,470.8 mil, Deposits: $236,091.5 mil, headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, positive income, 3121 total offices, Holding Company: U.S. Bancorp
  • THE National Bank: Sterling Branch at 215 Third Avenue, branch established on 1962/12/18. Info updated 2009/01/28: Bank assets: $1,088.2 mil, Deposits: $914.5 mil, headquarters in Moline, IL, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 29 total offices, Holding Company: National Bancshares, Inc.
  • Fifth Third Bank: Sterling Facility at 2800 East Lincolnway, branch established on 1973/03/21. Info updated 2009/10/05: Bank assets: $114,540.4 mil, Deposits: $89,689.1 mil, headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 1378 total offices, Holding Company: Fifth Third Bancorp
  • 2 other banks with 2 local branches

For population 15 years and over in Sterling:

Marital status in Sterling, IL
  • Never married: 39.1%
  • Now married: 38.9%
  • Separated: 1.7%
  • Widowed: 7.8%
  • Divorced: 12.5%

For population 25 years and over in Sterling:

  • High school or higher: 90.1%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.2%
  • Unemployed: 6.6%
  • Mean travel time to work (commute): 16.1 minutes
Educational Attainment in 2022
School Enrollment by Level of School in 2022
Education Gini index (Inequality in education)
Here:

10.5
Illinois average:

12.5

Travel time (in minutes) to work in 2022
Means of transportation to work in 2022 - Sterling
Presidential Elections Results

Graphs represent county-level data. Detailed 2008 Election Results

Religion statistics for Sterling, IL (based on Whiteside County data)

Religions Adherents in 2010
Religions Adherents - Change between 2000 and 2010
ReligionAdherentsCongregations
Mainline Protestant13,16243
Evangelical Protestant10,75754
Catholic10,2359
Other5053
None23,839-
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 8
Whiteside County:

1.36 / 10,000 pop.
State:

2.24 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
This county:

0.17 / 10,000 pop.
State:

0.08 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 1
This county:

0.17 / 10,000 pop.
Illinois:

0.75 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 25
Here:

4.24 / 10,000 pop.
State:

2.61 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 51
Here:

8.64 / 10,000 pop.
Illinois:

6.86 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Whiteside County:

8.7%
Illinois:

8.3%
Adult obesity rate:
Whiteside County:

25.7%
Illinois:

25.2%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Whiteside County:

12.4%
Illinois:

14.5%

Health and Nutrition:

Healthy diet rate:
Here:

49.1%
Illinois:

49.5%

Average overall health of teeth and gums:
Sterling:

46.5%
Illinois:

47.2%

Average BMI:
Here:

28.8
Illinois:

28.6

People feeling badly about themselves:
Sterling:

20.5%
Illinois:

20.5%

People not drinking alcohol at all:
Sterling:

11.1%
Illinois:

10.8%

Average hours sleeping at night:
This city:

6.8
Illinois:

6.8

Overweight people:
Sterling:

34.0%
Illinois:

33.4%

General health condition:
Sterling:

55.8%
Illinois:

56.4%

Average condition of hearing:
Here:

78.4%
Illinois:

79.9%

More about Health and Nutrition of Sterling, IL Residents
Local government employment and payroll (March 2022)
Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll
Hospitals 1,202$7,512,874$75,004245$444,595
Police Protection - Officers 26$149,039$68,7870$0
Firefighters 16$148,944$111,7084$435
Streets and Highways 14$61,996$53,1390$0
Police - Other 10$51,560$61,8720$0
Financial Administration 8$40,462$60,6930$0
Sewerage 7$37,426$64,1590$0
Local Libraries 5$17,097$41,0336$6,244
Other and Unallocable 4$24,787$74,3611$303
Other Government Administration 4$24,406$73,2189$1,800
Fire - Other 3$19,842$79,3680$0
Totals for Government 1,299$8,088,431$74,720265$453,378

Sterling government finances - Expenditure in 2021 (per resident):

  • Construction - General - Other: $329,000 ($22.59)
    Regular Highways: $243,000 ($16.68)
    Financial Administration: $74,000 ($5.08)
  • Current Operations - Hospitals: $230,560,000 ($15828.64)
    General - Other: $10,941,000 ($751.13)
    Police Protection: $3,232,000 ($221.89)
    Local Fire Protection: $2,044,000 ($140.33)
    Regular Highways: $1,254,000 ($86.09)
    Financial Administration: $617,000 ($42.36)
    Libraries: $562,000 ($38.58)
    Parks and Recreation: $150,000 ($10.30)
  • General - Interest on Debt: $1,433,000 ($98.38)
  • Total Salaries and Wages: $6,652,000 ($456.68)

Sterling government finances - Revenue in 2021 (per resident):

  • Charges - Hospital Public: $218,684,000 ($15013.32)
    Sewerage: $3,280,000 ($225.18)
    Solid Waste Management: $1,237,000 ($84.92)
    Parks and Recreation: $11,000 ($0.76)
  • Federal Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $243,000 ($16.68)
    Public Welfare: $218,000 ($14.97)
    Other: $5,000 ($0.34)
  • Local Intergovernmental - Other: $503,000 ($34.53)
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue - Other: $16,057,000 ($1102.36)
    Interest Earnings: $3,084,000 ($211.73)
    Fines and Forfeits: $89,000 ($6.11)
  • State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $8,001,000 ($549.29)
    Highways: $1,057,000 ($72.57)
    Other: $43,000 ($2.95)
    Housing and Community Development: $13,000 ($0.89)
    Public Welfare: $2,000 ($0.14)
  • Tax - Property: $6,188,000 ($424.82)
    Other Selective Sales: $2,804,000 ($192.50)
    Public Utilities Sales: $939,000 ($64.47)
    Other License: $633,000 ($43.46)

Sterling government finances - Debt in 2021 (per resident):

  • Long Term Debt - Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $79,694,000 ($5471.23)
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $53,256,000 ($3656.19)
    Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $31,744,000 ($2179.32)
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $5,307,000 ($364.34)

Sterling government finances - Cash and Securities in 2021 (per resident):

  • Bond Funds - Cash and Securities: $47,304,000 ($3247.56)
  • Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $142,933,000 ($9812.78)
Businesses in Sterling, IL
NameCountNameCount
ALDI1Kroger1
Applebee's1La-Z-Boy1
Ashley Furniture1Long John Silver's1
Bath & Body Works1MasterBrand Cabinets2
Blockbuster1Maurices1
Buffalo Wild Wings1McDonald's1
CVS1Menards1
Carson Pirie Scott1Payless1
Chevrolet1RadioShack1
Dairy Queen1Sears1
Domino's Pizza1Staples1
Fashion Bug1Subway2
FedEx1T-Mobile1
Finish Line1Taco Bell1
Ford1U.S. Cellular2
GNC1UPS2
GameStop1Vans3
Goodwill2Walgreens1
JCPenney1Walmart1
Jones New York1Wendy's1
KFC1YMCA1
Kmart1

Strongest AM radio stations in Sterling:

  • WSDR (1240 AM; 1 kW; STERLING, IL; Owner: W. RUSSELL WITHERS, JR.)
  • WSCR (670 AM; 50 kW; CHICAGO, IL; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)
  • WGN (720 AM; 50 kW; CHICAGO, IL; Owner: WGN CONTINENTAL BROADCASTING CO.)
  • WBBM (780 AM; 50 kW; CHICAGO, IL; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)
  • WTMJ (620 AM; 50 kW; MILWAUKEE, WI; Owner: JOURNAL BROADCAST CORPORATION)
  • WMVP (1000 AM; 50 kW; CHICAGO, IL; Owner: ABC, INC.)
  • WIXN (1460 AM; 1 kW; DIXON, IL; Owner: NEWRADIO GROUP, LLC)
  • WLS (890 AM; 50 kW; CHICAGO, IL; Owner: WLS, INC.)
  • WYLL (1160 AM; 50 kW; CHICAGO, IL; Owner: SCA LICENSE CORPORATION)
  • WISN (1130 AM; 50 kW; MILWAUKEE, WI; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • WFRL (1570 AM; 5 kW; FREEPORT, IL; Owner: MAYFAIR BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
  • WKBF (1270 AM; 5 kW; ROCK ISLAND, IL; Owner: MERCURY BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)
  • WOC (1420 AM; 5 kW; DAVENPORT, IA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Sterling:

  • WSSQ (94.3 FM; STERLING, IL; Owner: W. RUSSELL WITHERS, JR.)
  • WLLT (107.7 FM; POLO, IL; Owner: SAUK VALLEY BROADCASTING COMPANY)
  • WNIQ (91.5 FM; STERLING, IL; Owner: NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY)
  • WRCV (101.7 FM; DIXON, IL; Owner: NEWRADIO GROUP, LLC)
  • WZZT (95.1 FM; MORRISON, IL; Owner: W. RUSSELL WITHERS, JR.)
  • KUUL (101.3 FM; EAST MOLINE, IL; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
  • KCQQ (106.5 FM; DAVENPORT, IA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
  • WLLR-FM (103.7 FM; DAVENPORT, IA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
  • KMXG (96.1 FM; CLINTON, IA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
  • WSEY (95.7 FM; OREGON, IL; Owner: NEWRADIO GROUP, LLC)
  • WVIK (90.3 FM; ROCK ISLAND, IL; Owner: AUGUSTANA COLLEGE)
  • WMKB (102.9 FM; EARLVILLE, IL; Owner: KM RADIO OF EARLVILLE, L.L.C.)

TV broadcast stations around Sterling:

  • W52BI (Channel 52; STERLING/DIXON, IL; Owner: TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK)
  • W48CK (Channel 48; STERLING, IL; Owner: BLACK HAWK COLLEGE)
  • WHBF-TV (Channel 4; ROCK ISLAND, IL; Owner: CORONET COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY)
  • KWQC-TV (Channel 6; DAVENPORT, IA; Owner: YOUNG BROADCASTING OF DAVENPORT, INC.)
Fatal accident count
See more detailed statistics of Sterling fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2021 here
  • National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics
  • 33Number of bridges
  • 512ft / 156mTotal length
  • 108,375Total average daily traffic
  • 6,267Total average daily truck traffic
New bridges in Sterling, IL - historical statistics
  • New bridges - historical statistics
  • 11920-1929
  • 11940-1949
  • 61950-1959
  • 101960-1969
  • 21970-1979
  • 81980-1989
  • 21990-1999
  • 12000-2009
  • 22010-2019
See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Sterling, IL
FCC Registered Cell Phone Towers: 3 (See the full list of FCC Registered Cell Phone Towers in Sterling)
FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 111 (See the full list of FCC Registered Antenna Towers)
FCC Registered Commercial Land Mobile Towers: 2 (See the full list of FCC Registered Commercial Land Mobile Towers in Sterling, IL)
FCC Registered Private Land Mobile Towers: 1 (See the full list of FCC Registered Private Land Mobile Towers)
FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 26 (See the full list of FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers)
FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 100 (See the full list of FCC Registered Microwave Towers in this town)
FCC Registered Paging Towers: 3 (See the full list of FCC Registered Paging Towers)
FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 129 (See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Sterling)

FAA Registered Aircraft: 22 (See the full list of FAA Registered Aircraft in Sterling)

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents

    Fire incident distribution by year According to the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 110. The highest number of fires - 138 took place in 2003, and the least - 72 in 2011. The data has a rising trend.
    Fire incident types in Sterling, IL When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (55.0%), and Outside Fires (28.5%).

    • Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Sterling, IL
    • 1,03255.0%Structure Fires
    • 53428.5%Outside Fires
    • 22512.0%Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires
    • 854.5%Other
See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Sterling, IL
Most common first names in Sterling, IL among deceased individuals
NameCountLived (average)
John21175.6 years
Robert15669.9 years
Mary14880.2 years
William12875.4 years
Helen11879.3 years
George9977.4 years
James9870.9 years
Dorothy8779.3 years
Charles8575.5 years
Ruth8281.4 years
Most common last names in Sterling, IL among deceased individuals
Last nameCountLived (average)
Johnson6978.1 years
Smith6878.2 years
Miller6276.9 years
Stern2877.9 years
Davis2679.2 years
Anderson2678.1 years
Brown2572.2 years
Williams2269.3 years
Janssen2277.3 years
Clark2179.7 years
Houses and condos Apartments
Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos in Sterling, IL
  • 88.2%Utility gas
  • 11.2%Electricity
  • 0.6%Bottled, tank, or LP gas
Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments in Sterling, IL
  • 54.4%Utility gas
  • 43.9%Electricity
  • 1.0%No fuel used
  • 0.7%Other fuel


Sterling compared to Illinois state average:

  • Median household income below state average.
  • Median house value significantly below state average.
  • Unemployed percentage below state average.
  • Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.
  • Number of college students below state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.

Sterling on our top lists:

  • #65 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the biggest local government total salary and wages expenses per resident (population 10,000+)"
  • #99 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from other counties between 2010 and 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
There are 27 pilots and 13 other airmen in this city.
Cost of Living Calculator
Top Patent Applicants
Top Patent Applicants
  • Russell L. Moseman (4)
  • John Benson (3)
  • Keith Dirks (2)
  • Edward D. Brill (2)
  • Rick L. Habben (2)
  • Keith W. Dirks (2)
  • Wolfgang H. Koch (2)
  • Luther D. Langley (2)
  • Paul J. Brackemeyer (2)
  • Christine M. Paxton (2)

Total of 39 patent applications in 2008-2024.

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