Sterling, IL 61081 - Home Prices, Rental Trends, Listings & Demographics | Prop:Metrics

Sterling, IL—61081

Real Estate Data & Market Trends

Key Metrics at a Glance

Median Home Value

$138,000

3.0% YoY Growth

Household Income

$60,900

14.2% YoY Growth

Days on Market

32.0% Longer 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 — Sterling, IL

As of Dec '25, the median home price in Sterling, IL is $138,000, with a year-over-year change of 3.0%. 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 Type	Median Home Value	YoY % Change
All Homes	$138,000	3.0%
Single Family	$138,000	3.8%
Condos	N/A	N/A

Cost per Home Size

Home Size	Median Home Value	YoY % Change
1 Bed

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.

Type	Median Rent	Average 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 Dec '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Sterling, IL is 57. This is a increase of 4.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market longer than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 21.0%, representing a small inventory and little supply pressure on home prices.

Metric	Zip Code Average	Year over Year % Change
Median Listing Price	$165,000	35.0%
Listing Count	59	27.0%
Listings as % of Homes	0.5%	27.0%
Days on Market	71	32.0%

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.

Metric	Latest Census	YoY % 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

Metric	Latest Census	5-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

Metric	Zip 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...

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 Size	HUD Premium	Market Rent	Max 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

Sterling, IL—61081

Key Metrics at a Glance

Home Price Trends — Sterling, IL

Cost per Home Type

Cost per Home Size

% of Housing Stock

Rental Trends — Sterling, IL

% of Rental Stock

Property Listings — Sterling, IL

Demographics — Sterling, IL

Race and Ethnicity

Mortgage and Risk — Sterling, IL

Mortgages

Rentals and Section 8 — Sterling, IL

Section 8 Market Size

Section 8 Opportunity

Affordability — Sterling, IL

Home Price to Income Ratio

Sterling, IL — ZIP Code Boundary Map

Nearby ZIP Codes

Rock Falls, IL

Milledgeville, IL

Chadwick, IL

Polo, IL

Lyndon, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Metric	Zip Code Average
Home Price to Income Ratio	2
Median Home Price	$138,000
Median Household Income	$60,900

Sterling, IL—61081

Key Metrics at a Glance

Home Price Trends — Sterling, IL

Cost per Home Type

Cost per Home Size

% of Housing Stock

Rental Trends — Sterling, IL

% of Rental Stock

Property Listings — Sterling, IL

Demographics — Sterling, IL

Race and Ethnicity

Mortgage and Risk — Sterling, IL

Mortgages

Rentals and Section 8 — Sterling, IL

Section 8 Market Size

Section 8 Opportunity

Affordability — Sterling, IL

Home Price to Income Ratio

Sterling, IL — ZIP Code Boundary Map

Nearby ZIP Codes

Rock Falls, IL

Milledgeville, IL

Chadwick, IL

Polo, IL

Lyndon, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home price in Sterling, IL 61081?

How have home prices in Sterling, IL 61081 changed over the past year?

What is the home price projection for Sterling, IL 61081?

What are the demographics of Sterling, IL 61081?

How long does it take homes to sell in Sterling, IL 61081?

What is the average rent price in Sterling, IL 61081?