Browse ZIP Codes by State

All states and cities →
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
View in Interactive Map
  1. Home
  2. /Browse ZIP Codes
  3. /Illinois
  4. /Sterling, IL - 61081

Sterling, IL—61081

Real Estate Data & Market Trends

Key Metrics at a Glance

Median Home Value
$150,000
5.2% YoY Growth
Household Income
$60,900
14.2% YoY Growth
Days on Market
32
1.0% Shorter YoY
Home Price Forecast
1.8%
Median Rent
$700
1.8% YoY Growth
1-Bed Rent
$650
8.7% YoY Growth
2-Bed Rent
$1,100
5.8% YoY Growth
3-Bed Rent
$1,350
0.0% YoY Growth
  • Home Price Trends
  • Rental Trends
  • Property Listings
  • Demographics
  • Mortgage and Risk

Home Price Trends — Sterling, IL

As of May '26, the median home price in Sterling, IL is $150,000, with a year-over-year change of 5.2%. This indicates that home prices in Sterling, IL are increasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 1.8%, suggesting an increase housing market in the next year.

Cost per Home Type

Home TypeMedian Home ValueYoY % Change
All Homes
$150,0005.2%
Single Family $150,0005.6%
Condos N/AN/A

Cost per Home Size

Home SizeMedian Home ValueYoY % Change
1 Bed
  • Affordability
  • Rentals and Section 8
    • N/A
    N/A
    2 Bed
    		$114,0006.5%
    3 Bed
    		$162,0005.9%
    4 Bed
    		$204,0005.2%
    5 Bed $254,1526.8%
    Loading chart...

    % of Housing Stock

    Studio
    2.1%
    1 Bedroom
    8.7%
    2 Bedrooms
    27.7%
    3 Bedrooms
    41.9%
    4 Bedrooms
    15.6%
    5+ Bedrooms
    4.0%

    Rental Trends — Sterling, IL

    As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Sterling, IL is $1,110, with a year-over-year rent change of -1.8%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Sterling, IL is studios: $675, 1-bedrooms: $650, 2-bedrooms: $1,100, 3-bedrooms: $1,350, 4-bedrooms: $2,200. The most common rental property sizes in Sterling, IL are 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom, accounting for 43.6% and 28.9% of the rental stock.

    TypeMedian RentAverage Rent
    Average Rent$700$1,110
    Studio Rent $650$675
    1 Bed Rent $650$650
    2 Bed Rent $1,100$1,100
    3 Bed Rent $1,350$1,350
    4 Bed Rent $2,200$2,200
    Loading chart...

    % of Rental Stock

    Studio
    5.6%
    1 Bedroom
    28.9%
    2 Bedrooms
    43.6%
    3 Bedrooms
    16.9%
    4 Bedrooms
    5.0%

    Property Listings — Sterling, IL

    As of May '26, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Sterling, IL is 32. This is a decrease of -1.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market about the same amount of time than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 14.0%, representing a small inventory and little supply pressure on home prices.

    MetricZip Code AverageYear over Year % Change
    Median Listing Price
    		$170,00015.0%
    Listing Count
    		56-18.0%
    Listings as % of Homes0.5%-18.0%
    Days on Market
    		32-1.0%
    Loading chart...

    Demographics — Sterling, IL

    As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Sterling, IL has a population of 20,900, which has remained stable by -1.0% over the past 5 years. Sterling, IL is a moderately popular place for families, as children make up 20.2% of the population. The area has a poorly educated workforce, with 20.2% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are few residents working remotely, with 3.0% reporting working from home.

    MetricLatest CensusYoY % Change
    Population
    		20,900-1.0%
    % Under 18
    		20.2%-12.2%
    % Seniors
    		22.5%15.4%
    % WFH
    		3.0%30.4%
    % w/ College Degree
    		20.2%-4.3%
    Loading chart...

    As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Sterling, IL is a predominantly white area, with 72.3% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 2.3% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Sterling, IL is hispanic, making up 20.8% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 4.5% of the population in Sterling, IL, and this percentage has decreased by 19.6% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting fewer immigrants are calling the area home.

    Race and Ethnicity

    MetricLatest Census5-Year % Change
    % White
    		72.3%-2.3%
    % Black
    		1.9%-17.4%
    % Hispanic
    		20.8%-1.4%
    % Asian
    		1.0%0.0%
    % Foreign Born
    		4.5%-19.6%
    Loading chart...

    Mortgage and Risk — Sterling, IL

    According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 230 mortgage originations in Sterling, IL, of which 69.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 79.0%, with 33.0% above 90% LTV (very high). This implies large mortgage risk in Sterling, IL. Investor activity is low, as 12.0% of loans were by investors. 10.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting few homeowners are tapping equity.

    Mortgages

    MetricZip Code Average
    Total Loan Originations
    		230
    % Conventional Loans
    		69.0%
    % Government Loans
    		31.0%
    % Investor Loans
    		12.0%
    % Second Loans
    		1.0%
    % Cash Out Refinance
    		10.0%
    Loading chart...
    Loading chart...

    Rentals and Section 8 — Sterling, IL

    Sterling, IL lacks sufficient Section 8 program data for analysis.

    Section 8 Market Size

    Total Units under HUD
    		233
    Total Units Section 8
    		190
    % Rentals under Section 8
    		N/A
    % Occupied Section 8
    		82.0%

    Section 8 Opportunity

    Home SizeHUD PremiumMarket RentMax HUD Rent
    1 Bedroom$20$650$670
    2 Bedroom-$230$1,100$870
    3 Bedroom-$260$1,350$1,090
    4 Bedroom-$1,040$2,200$1,160

    Affordability — Sterling, IL

    Home Price to Income Ratio

    MetricZip Code Average
    Home Price to Income Ratio2.2
    Median Home Price$150,000
    Median Household Income$60,900

    Sterling, IL — ZIP Code Boundary Map

    Loading map...

    Nearby ZIP Codes

    Rock Falls, IL

    61071

    Milledgeville, IL

    61051

    Chadwick, IL

    61014

    Polo, IL

    61064

    Lyndon, IL

    61261

    Frequently Asked Questions