Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Sterling, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

14,717

Median Agei

42.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

65.2%9,590

Hispanic/Latino

26.8%3,945

Two or More

4%583

Black

2.2%325

Asian

1.2%171

Other

0.7%101

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%2

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.8%697

High School Diploma

31.2%3,200

Some College (<1 yr)

8%825

Some College (1+ yr)

15.6%1,599

Associate's Degree

10.1%1,034

Bachelor's Degree

12%1,235

Master's Degree

7.7%789

Professional Degree

0.9%90

Doctorate

0.5%55

HS or Higher

92.8%

BA or Higher

21.1%

Graduate+

9.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$108,700

Median Renti

$859

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

65.1%4,281

Renter-Occupied

34.9%2,298

Total Units

7,393

Homeownership

65.1%

Vacancy Rate

11%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.3%229

$50K–$100K

37.1%1,588

$100K–$150K

31.4%1,343

$150K–$200K

14.8%632

$200K–$300K

8.5%363

$300K–$500K

2.9%126

Rent Distribution

Under $500

253

$500–$750

495

$750–$1,000

797

$1,000–$1,250

264

$1,250–$1,500

149

$1,500–$2,000

172

$2,000+

Year Built

2010–2019

2.5%188

2000–2009

5.3%395

1990–1999

5.8%430

1980–1989

4.8%352

1970–1979

13.5%998

1960–1969

11.5%848

1950–1959

21.3%1,575

1940–1949

10.1%746

1939 or earlier

25.2%1,861

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

79.5%5,228

Electricity

19.6%1,289

Bottled/LP Gas

0.5%34

No Fuel

0.3%22

Other

0.1%6

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$57,350

Mean Household Incomei

$79,140

Per Capita Incomei

$36,040

Poverty Ratei

15%

Unemploymenti

3.8%

Labor Forcei

7,546

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.5%365

$10K–$15K

5.9%389

$15K–$20K

5.1%337

$20K–$25K

3.4%225

$25K–$30K

4.9%325

$30K–$35K

5.2%343

$35K–$40K

4.6%305

$40K–$45K

7.1%465

$45K–$50K

2.9%190

$50K–$60K

7.2%476

$60K–$75K

9.4%619

$75K–$100K

12.5%821

$100K–$125K

8.4%552

$125K–$150K

8%526

$150K–$200K

6.2%405

$200K+

3.6%236

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

235

Residentsi

227

Avg. Tenant Renti

$404/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

14 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers82 homes54% occupied$447/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8110 homes99% occupied$388/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC31 homes99% occupied$395/mo rent

811/PRAC12 homes92% occupied$274/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $57,350/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

73.5%

Very low income$17K–$29K/yr

23.8%

Low income$29K–$46K/yr

2.7%

Who Receives This Housing

71.5% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

31.8% of subsidized households are minority

41.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

54.7% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

7955.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

377

China

Philippines

Poland

Guatemala

Korea

Germany

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,104

Avg. Commutei

18.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

7,260

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,071(9.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.1%Insured

4.9%Uninsured