Sterling township, Illinois
Sterling township profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Sterling township is a geographic entity located in Whiteside County, Illinois. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 16,822. The land area covers 23.37 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 16,822 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 42.6 yrs | ±2.2 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 7,447 | ±273 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 8,318 | ±270 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 7,447 | ±273 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 871 | ±237 |
| Median Home Value | $115,200 | ±$5,638 |
| Median Gross Rent | $865 | ±$50 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,764 | ±$6,387 |
| Per Capita Income | $38,188 | ±$3,695 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.6% | ±3.2% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 2,278 | ±540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | ±1.5% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 8,386 | ±420 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 87.2% | ±2.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 16,985 (2024)
ID: 125367
|
Township | Official Local Government |
Contact: TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
108 4TH AVE, STE 2, STERLING IL 61081-3902
|
|
GUS Population: 54,657 (2024)
ID: 162168
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
200 E KNOX ST, MORRISON IL 61270-2819
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education School Sterling | M | Sterling, IL | |
| Special Education School Sterling | M | Sterling, IL | |
| Special Education School Sterling | M | Sterling, IL | |
| Special Education School Sterling | M | Sterling, IL | |
| Regular School Sterling | 06-08 | Sterling, IL | |
| Regular School Sterling | PK-02 | Sterling, IL | |
| Regular School Sterling | PK-02 | Sterling, IL | |
| Regular School Sterling | 03-05 | Sterling, IL | |
| Alternative School Sterling | 04-12 | Sterling, IL | |
| Regular School Sterling | 09-12 | Sterling, IL |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling
|
College Vocational | 1.8 mi away | 211 E Third St, Sterling, IL, 61081-3611 |
8156250247
|
|
STERLING PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 1.9 mi away | 102 WEST THIRD STREET, STERLING, IL, 61081 |
(815) 625-1370
|
|
Sauk Valley Community College
|
College | 4.7 mi away | 173 Illinois Rt 2, Dixon, IL, 61021-9112 |
8152885511
|
|
ROCK FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
|
Library | 2.9 mi away | 1007 SEVENTH AVENUE, ROCK FALLS, IL, 61071 |
(815) 626-3958
|
|
Morrison Institute of Technology
|
College | 14.3 mi away | 701 Portland Ave, Morrison, IL, 61270-2959 |
8157727218201
|
|
DIXON PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 10.7 mi away | 221 SOUTH HENNEPIN AVENUE, DIXON, IL, 61021 |
(815) 284-7261
|
|
MILLEDGEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.3 mi away | 18 WEST FIFTH STREET, MILLEDGEVILLE, IL, 61051 |
(815) 225-7572
|
|
POLO PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
|
Library | 13.1 mi away | 302 WEST MASON STREET, POLO, IL, 61064 |
(815) 946-2713
|
|
ODELL PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.3 mi away | 307 SOUTH MADISON STREET, MORRISON, IL, 61270 |
(815) 772-7323
|
|
HENRY C. ADAMS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 16.2 mi away | 209 WEST THIRD STREET, PROPHETSTOWN, IL, 61277 |
(309) 714-2699
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at DIXON 1W, IL US, located 9.1 miles from Sterling township. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.0° | 13.6° | 21.3° | 1.97" | 13.0" |
| February | 33.6° | 17.3° | 25.5° | 1.81" | 5.7" |
| March | 46.3° | 28.3° | 37.3° | 2.63" | 4.5" |
| April | 59.9° | 38.8° | 49.4° | 3.98" | 0.6" |
| May | 71.0° | 50.7° | 60.9° | 4.82" | 0.0" |
| June | 79.8° | 60.7° | 70.2° | 5.59" | 0.0" |
| July | 82.7° | 64.3° | 73.5° | 4.29" | 0.0" |
| August | 81.4° | 62.4° | 71.9° | 4.19" | 0.0" |
| September | 75.3° | 53.8° | 64.6° | 3.69" | 0.0" |
| October | 62.8° | 42.0° | 52.4° | 2.96" | 0.0" |
| November | 47.6° | 30.5° | 39.0° | 2.43" | 1.8" |
| December | 34.5° | 20.1° | 27.3° | 2.17" | 5.6" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling city | City | 1.1 mi | — |
| Rock Falls city | City | 2.9 mi | — |
| Galt CDP | CDP | 3.8 mi | — |
| Nelson village | Village | 4.4 mi | — |
| Como CDP | CDP | 5.2 mi | — |
| Coleta village | Village | 8.3 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 1719572553. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.