At a Glance
Median Income
$52,647
$35,146 per capita
Home Value
$107,800
Zillow: $139,801
Median Rent
$780/mo
29.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
179/100K
3,384/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
18.5%
90.5% high school+
Unemployment
3.0%
9.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.0%
15.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Sterling Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Sterling's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Sterling a Good Place to Live?
B
3.0 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Sterling residents earn a median household income of $52,647 , which is 30% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $35,146. The unemployment rate stands at 3.0% (17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,185 business establishments, including 132 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Sterling is $107,800 , 62% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $139,801. Median rent is $780/month, with 29.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1958.
Safety & Crime
Sterling reports 179 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 53% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,384/100K. The murder rate is 6.9/100K.
Education
18.5% of adults in Sterling hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(45% below the national average).
90.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Sterling has an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C).
Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 40.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population14,670
Median Age42.6 yrs
Density2,466/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.9%
Economy
B+
Median Income$52,647
Per Capita$35,146
Unemployment3.0%
Poverty9.0%
County GDP$2,978M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,042
Housing
A+
Home Value$107,800
Rent$780
Ownership61.8%
Zillow$139,801
Housing Units7,350
Rent Burden29.4%
Crime
F
Violent179/100K
Property3,384/100K
Murder6.9/100K
Assault62/100K
Burglary310/100K
Health
Obesity38.0%
Diabetes11.4%
Smoking15.6%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death9,513/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain40.5 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation677 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.5%
High School+90.5%
Graduate+7.2%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 56% / D 42%
Commute18 min
Broadband82.3%
Internet Speed80 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries6
Did You Know?
Sterling was founded in 1838.
The median home in Sterling was built in 1958.
The nearest airport is Chicago/Rockford International (41 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.444 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 132 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.
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