Rankings · How Sterling ranks in IL
How Sterling compares across Illinois
Sterling is ranked on 34 lists against the 820 Illinois towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 1 and the top quarter on 4.
Lists ranked on
34
of IL’s 820 ranked towns
Top-10 finishes
1
Best: #9 best libraries for kids
Top-quarter finishes
4
of 24 lists where higher is better
Strongest area
Getting around
Top 13% on average
★ What stands out · What kind of place
More vacation homes than 95% of Illinois
Not better or worse, just Sterling’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
More vacation homes than 95% of IL towns
Year-roundVacation homes
3.2% of homes are seasonal
Steadier prices than 81% of IL towns
Steadier pricesPrices rising fast
+41.3% in home prices, 5 years
More seniors than 77% of IL towns
Fewer seniorsMore seniors
21.9% of residents are 65+
Fewer kids than 72% of IL towns
Fewer kidsMore kids
20.4% of residents are under 18
Older than 67% of IL towns
YoungerOlder
42.6 median age
More snow than 59% of IL towns
Less snowMore snow
29 in of snow a year
Shorter growing season than 54% of IL towns
Shorter seasonLonger season
180 days between frosts
Where it shines
The lists Sterling does best on
Each list ranks every IL town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with Sterling marked.
At a glance
Sterling lands in the top half on 12 of 24 lists
Each dot is Sterling’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in IL, the right end is last. Areas where Sterling does best come first.
Top 10%Top halfBottom half
Getting aroundWork & commute →
Shortest commute#102/820 Cost of livingHousing →
Most affordable#116/819Lowest property tax#184/818Cheapest rent#202/799Rent easiest to afford#112/278 LibrariesLibrary →
Best libraries for kids#9/31Most library borrowing#130/262Most-used libraries#146/262 HealthHealth →
Lowest depression#285/819Lowest obesity#388/819Fewest smokers#528/819Closest to a top hospital#613/820Healthiest#639/817Most active#700/819Fewest uninsured#701/819 People
Most educated#582/820 HousingHousing →
Most new homes#338/431 Next door
Sterling out-ranks every neighbor it can be compared with
Head to head on the lists where both towns are ranked: a point for each list where one town places higher. Tap a town for its own rankings.