Sterling is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, home to about 14,717 people across 5.8 square miles. Its ZIP code is 61081.
Homes sold for a median of $113 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Sterling; also Como and Coleta
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Sterling. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Sterling’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Sterling well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)93 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)41 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Madison, WI90 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL104 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Sterling; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Sterling had 14,764 residents in the 2020 census, down 4% since 2000.
It’s the 166th largest of 1,450 towns in Illinois by population.
Whiteside County grew from 34,710 residents in 1900 to 55,691 in 2020.
Whiteside County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 83°F in summer, and winter lows average 14°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 31 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Dixon 1w, IL weather station (10 miles away).
17,838 jobs at 1,158 businesses in Whiteside County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
257 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Sterling.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 15 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 44 |
| Dentists | 10 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 67 |
| Mental health providers | 70 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 34 |
| Optometrists | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 14 |
| Pharmacies | 7 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (22 nearby)
Grocery stores (2 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (4 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues (2 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1838.
Notable people born here
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Sterling CUSD 5, Lee/Ogle/Whiteside ROE, Bi-County Special Educ Coop. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Elem SchoolSterling | Pre-K–2 | 407 | Public | 1.4 mi |
| Jefferson Elem SchoolSterling | Pre-K–2 | 450 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Lincoln Elem SchoolSterling | 3–5 | 277 | Public | 1.5 mi |
| Washington Elem SchoolSterling | 3–5 | 394 | Public | 0.3 mi |
| ROE 47 Student Support ALOPSterling | 4–12 | — | Alternative Education | 1.8 mi |
| Challand Middle SchoolSterling | 6–8 | 726 | Public | 0.9 mi |
| Sterling High SchoolSterling | 9–12 | 999 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Whiteside Area CareerSterling | 11–12 | — | Career and Technical | 0.8 mi |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Transition Life SSterling | — | — | Special Education | 0.9 mi |
| Bi-County SpEd HSSterling | — | — | Special Education | 0.8 mi |
| Bi-County-3-5 LIfe Skills-MerrillSterling | — | — | Special Education | 0.3 mi |
| Bi-County-K-2 Life Skills-DillonSterling | — | — | Special Education | 1.1 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christ Lutheran SchoolSterling | Pre-K–7 | 23 | Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod | 1.5 mi |
| St Mary Grade SchoolSterling | Pre-K–8 | 171 | Roman Catholic | 1.0 mi |
| Newman Central Catholic High SchoolSterling | 9–12 | 182 | Roman Catholic | 0.4 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Sterling? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Como, Coleta and Galt.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.