Sterling is a small city of 14,852 in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,007
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sterling stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sterling is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sterling city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.1
Sterling's overall cost of living index is 91.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sterling costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sterling, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$102,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$757
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,007
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Sterling's violent crime rate is 319.4 per 100,000 residents
— 16% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
319.4 /100k
Property Crime
1333.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sterling is served primarily by Bi-County Special Educ Coop.
Metric
Sterling, IL
National Avg
School District
Bi-County Special Educ Coop
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sterling sees average highs of 29.0°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.8 inches of snow per year.
Sterling's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sterling roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $102,400 and median rent is $757/month.
Sterling's violent crime rate is 319.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1333.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sterling are operated by Bi-County Special Educ Coop.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
16.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sterling, IL has a population of 14,852, a median household income of $49,007, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Sterling averages 29.0°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches
with about 28.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sterling, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61081.
The population of Sterling, Illinois is 14,852 with a median age of 43.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sterling: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $102,400, median household income $49,007, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sterling side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
