Demographics & People — Sterling, Illinois
Population Overview
| Population (Census) | 14,670 |
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| Estimated 2026 | ~14,800 |
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| Median Age | 42.6 |
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| Total Households | 6,659 |
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| Family Households | 3,468 |
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| Average Household Size | 2.15 |
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| Diversity Index | 0.4039 (moderately diverse) |
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Race & Ethnicity
| White | 11,643 |
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| Black or African American | 243 |
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| Asian | 193 |
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| Hispanic or Latino | 3,782 |
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Heritage & Ancestry
| Group | Count |
|---|
| German | 4,237 |
| Other groups | 4,194 |
| Hispanic: Hispanic or Latino | 3,955 |
| Unclassified or not reported | 3,387 |
| Hispanic: Mexican | 3,176 |
| Irish | 1,751 |
| English | 1,170 |
| American | 622 |
| Polish | 450 |
| Italian | 371 |
Language
| English Only | 12,254 |
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| Spanish | 1,312 |
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| Population 5+ | 13,983 |
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Veterans
| Veterans | 1,027 |
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| Population 18+ | 11,956 |
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Commuting
| Mean Commute Time | 18.1 minutes |
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| Work from Home | 5.8% |
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| Commuter Profile | N/A |
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Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023; Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003; Census ACS 5-Year 2023, B19013. Data for Sterling, Illinois.
