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Advertise here →Sterling, IL · Houses & Market Data
Sterling, Illinois houses and real estate market data.
Houses in Sterling, IL (Whiteside County) — Census median home value $107,800, county listing prices up about 16.2% over the past year. Market data for Sterling houses and the broader area.
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Sterling, IL is in Whiteside County, Illinois — this guide covers houses in Sterling and the whole local market: resale homes, condos, land, and new construction. The most recent Census estimate puts the population at 14,670, with a median household income of $52,647. Census data puts Sterling houses at a median value of $107,800 (all owner-occupied homes); Whiteside County's current median listing price runs $179,450, up about 16.2% over the past year.
Info from government sites and builders may have provided source info.
Market overview
Sterling housing market
Sterling is in Whiteside County, Illinois. Manifest Census and county price-trend data provide baseline context for houses in Sterling and the surrounding county market.
Median home value (Census ACS)
$107,800
Population (Census ACS)
14,670
Median household income
$52,647
County price trend (2025)
3.98% YoY
Population, income, and median home value from the project batch manifest (Census ACS 2023 5-year). County price trend from FHFA county HPI when present in the manifest row.
At a glance
Sterling market snapshot
Population
14,670
County
Whiteside County
Median Household Income
$52,647
Median Home Value (city)
$107,800
Median Listing Price (Whiteside County)
$179,450
Median Gross Rent
$780/mo
Price Trend (YoY)
+16.2%
Market data compiled from public sources; deemed reliable but not guaranteed; verify independently. See About
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What makes Sterling different
Home Value, By Source
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate) puts Sterling's median home value — across all owner-occupied homes, not just recent sales — at $107,800. Separately, Whiteside County's current median listing price (via Realtor.com data, 2026-06-01) runs $179,450. These cover different geography (city vs. county) and different measures (assessed value vs. active listings), which is why we show both rather than picking one — full source list on our data sources page.
County Price Trend
Whiteside County's FHFA house price index shows a 3.98% annual change in 2025.
Population & Income
Sterling has an estimated population of 14,670 and a median household income of $52,647, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate).
Affordability Snapshot
Sterling's Census-reported median home value works out to about 2.0x the area's median household income, and median gross rent runs roughly 18% of that same income on an annualized basis. Housing economists commonly flag a price-to-income ratio above 4x as historically elevated -- useful context, not a personal affordability verdict.
Nearby
Places around Sterling
County guide: Whiteside County — cities, market context, and local resources for the county that includes Sterling.
USAHouses.com also helps visitors looking in nearby Whiteside County and other Illinois communities. Some locations may not yet have dedicated pages, but many licensed professionals in this region assist surrounding communities.
Nearby communities include Rock Falls, Galt, Como, Coleta, Tampico, Lyndon, Deer Grove, Morrison, Prophetstown, Erie, Fulton, Albany.
Rock Falls market data
Nearby city · ~1.9 mi
Galt market data
Nearby city · ~3.1 mi
Como market data
Nearby city · ~4.2 mi
Coleta market data
Nearby city · ~8.9 mi
Tampico market data
Nearby city · ~12.6 mi
Lyndon market data
Nearby city · ~13.1 mi
Deer Grove market data
Nearby city · ~13.1 mi
Morrison market data
Nearby city · ~13.7 mi
Prophetstown market data
Nearby city · ~15.2 mi
Erie market data
Nearby city · ~22.1 mi
Fulton market data
Nearby city · ~24.2 mi
Albany market data
Nearby city · ~26.8 mi
More Illinois cities with market guides: Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Elgin, Springfield, Peoria, Waukegan.
Aurora market data
Same-state city guide
Joliet market data
Same-state city guide
Naperville market data
Same-state city guide
Rockford market data
Same-state city guide
Elgin market data
Same-state city guide
Springfield market data
Same-state city guide
Peoria market data
Same-state city guide
Waukegan market data
Same-state city guide
Adjacent-county Census places with USAHouses.com pages: Nelson (~4.6 mi), Harmon (~9.0 mi), Dixon (~11.6 mi), Milledgeville (~12.0 mi), Nachusa (~16.1 mi), Walnut (~17.6 mi), Chadwick (~17.8 mi), Amboy (~19.2 mi), New Bedford (~19.9 mi), Franklin Grove (~20.6 mi), Ohio (~20.8 mi), Lee Center (~21.9 mi), Lanark (~22.0 mi), Hooppole (~22.3 mi), Manlius (~23.8 mi), Shannon (~24.5 mi).
New construction: New homes near Sterling (Chicago) · Illinois new construction.
Census & home facts
Sterling data from published sources
Population (ACS 2023)
14,670
Median home value (ACS 2023)
$107,800
Median household income (ACS 2023)
$52,647
Median gross rent (ACS 2023)
$780
County FHFA annual change (2025)
3.98%
County median listing price (FRED/Realtor.com) (2026-06-01)
$179,450
Census place type
city
County
Whiteside County
Land area (Census Gazetteer 2024)
5.95 sq mi
Census GEOID
1772546
Census ACS, FHFA, and FRED figures are labeled with the year present in existing CSVs. Subject to change / confirm locally.
NewUSAHouses.com communities
Closest verified new-home communities near Sterling
Availability and pricing are controlled by the builder and may change; confirm with the builder.
Falcon Farms ↗
Champion Homes · Port Byron, Illinois · ~34.9 mi
Century Heights Traditions ↗
D.R. Horton · Bettendorf, Iowa · ~41.1 mi
Prairie Springs ↗
Lennar · Malta, Illinois · ~43.1 mi · from $307,990
Whispering Hills ↗
Champion Homes · Coal Valley, Illinois · ~45.8 mi
Cloverleaf Village ↗
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Local life
Life in Sterling
Schools
Sterling CUSD 5 — 6 schools, 3,264 students enrolled, per the U.S. Department of Education's Common Core of Data. Whiteside addresses may be served by Sterling CUSD 5, but attendance zones vary by street — confirm assigned schools with the district before making a move.
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Common questions
Sterling FAQ
What are houses worth in Sterling, IL?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey puts the median value of houses in Sterling at $107,800. Whiteside County's current median listing price runs $179,450, up about 16.2% over the past year.
How much do houses cost in Sterling, IL?
For owner-occupied houses in Sterling, Census ACS data shows a median value of $107,800. Active listing prices in Whiteside County may differ — see the market snapshot above.
What types of houses are in Sterling, IL?
Sterling houses include resale single-family homes, condos, mobile homes, and small multi-unit buildings, plus new construction in surrounding Whiteside County communities where builders are active. The housing-stock section below uses Census ACS structure counts when available for this city.
What is the population of Sterling, IL?
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate) puts Sterling's population at approximately 14,670.
What's the median rent in Sterling, IL?
The Census ACS estimates median gross rent in Sterling at approximately $780 per month.
What is the median household income in Sterling, IL?
Census ACS data puts the median household income in Sterling at approximately $52,647.
Is the Sterling housing market growing?
Whiteside County's FHFA house price index shows a 3.98% annual change in 2025.
Is Sterling, IL affordable relative to income?
Census ACS data puts Sterling's median home value at about 2.0 times the median household income, with median gross rent equal to roughly 18% of that income annually. This is a general benchmark, not a personal pre-qualification -- your own income, debt, and down payment determine what you can actually afford.
What school district serves Sterling, IL?
Manifest and public school-directory data suggest Sterling CUSD 5 for many Sterling addresses, but attendance zones vary by street — verify your assigned schools with the district before making a move.
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