Zip Code 61081
Sterling, Illinois — Whiteside County
📍 ZIP code 61081 is in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois.
ZIP code 61081 is located in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois. It is a zip code in the Central (CST/CDT) Time Zone with an estimated population of 20,916. The area code for ZIP code 61081 is 309.
Quick Answer
Zip code 61081 is in Sterling, Illinois (Whiteside County). It has a population of 20,916, median household income of $60,854, and median home value of $121,000.
Population
20,916
Income
$60,854
Home Value
$121,000
Climate
83°F / 14°F
About Zip Code 61081
Zip code 61081 is located in Sterling, Illinois, within Whiteside County. Home to approximately 20,916 residents, this area sits at an elevation of 751 ft and falls within the Central (CST/CDT) timezone. The local area code is 309.
The median household income is $60,854 per year, which is below the national median of $70,784. Homes in this zip code have a median value of $121,000, and the cost of living index is 60 (40% below the national average of 100).
Summers average a high of 83°F while winters drop to 14°F. The area receives about 41 in of rain and 31 in of snow annually. The zip code covers 123.5 square miles of land area and 2.1 square miles of water.
Key Statistics
20,916
$60,854
$121,000
Central (CST/CDT)
309
751 ft
123.5 sq mi
43.3
9,753
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Compare With Nearby Zip Codes
| Metric | 61081 | 61037 | 61071 | 61051 | 61261 | 61270 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Sterling, IL | Galt, IL | Rock Falls, IL | Milledgeville, IL | Lyndon, IL | Morrison, IL |
| Population | 20,916 | 100 | 13,482 | 1,521 | 691 | 7,067 |
| Median Income | $60,854 | $69,048 | $57,909 | $63,125 | $53,750 | $82,782 |
| Home Value | $121,000 | $115,500 | $104,900 | $101,100 | $114,400 | $165,000 |
| Cost of Living | 60 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 69.1 | 43.6 | 38.7 | 45.8 | 41.3 |
Cost of Living
100 = National Average. Sterling's cost of living is 40% below the national average.
vs. State Avg
Below
Affordability
Very Affordable
Income-to-Home
2.0x
Demographics
Zip code 61081 has a population of 20,916 people with a median age of 43.3. There are 9,753 housing units in this area.
Racial & Ethnic Composition
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates.
Population History
Sterling (61081) population trend from 2010 to 2024
↓ -25.3%Source: U.S. Census Bureau estimates and American Community Survey data.
Climate & Weather
83°F
14°F
41 in
31 in
Sterling experiences warm summers with average highs around 83°F. Winters are cold with lows averaging 14°F. With 31 in of annual snowfall, residents should be prepared for significant winter weather.
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Housing & Economy
Median Home Value
$121,000
Median Household Income
$60,854
With 9,753 housing units across 123.5 square miles, 61081 has a housing density of 79 units per square mile. The home price-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
Location & Geography
Latitude
41.8332°
Longitude
-89.7380°
Land Area
123.5 sq mi
Water Area
2.1 sq mi
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip codes closest to 61081 (Sterling, IL) with distances:
ZIP Codes with Similar Income Nationwide
The five U.S. ZIP codes whose median household income is closest to 61081's $60,854. A way to compare Sterling to economically similar communities elsewhere in the country.
Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.
ZIP Codes with Similar Demographics
The five U.S. ZIP codes whose racial and ethnic composition most closely matches 61081 (Sterling, IL). Similarity is measured by cosine distance on the five-category ACS demographic vector.
Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.
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People Also Ask
What zip code is Sterling, Illinois?
Sterling, Illinois uses zip code 61081.
What county is zip code 61081 in?
Zip code 61081 is located in Whiteside County, Illinois.
What is the population of zip code 61081?
The population of zip code 61081 is 20,916 with a median age of 43.3.
Is 61081 in Sterling, Illinois?
Yes, zip code 61081 is in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois. The area code is 309.
Frequently Asked Questions
What city is zip code 61081 in?
Zip code 61081 is in Sterling, Illinois. It is part of Whiteside County and uses the Central (CST/CDT) timezone.
What is zip code 61081?
Zip code 61081 is a U.S. postal code in Sterling, Illinois (Whiteside County). It has a population of 20,916 and covers 123.5 square miles.
What is the population of zip code 61081?
The population of zip code 61081 (Sterling, IL) is 20,916 with a median age of 43.3. There are approximately 9,753 housing units in this area.
What is the median income in zip code 61081?
The median household income in zip code 61081 (Sterling, IL) is $60,854 per year. The cost of living index is 60 (100 = national average).
What is the average home price in zip code 61081?
The median home value in zip code 61081 (Sterling, IL) is $121,000. The cost of living index is 60 compared to the national average of 100.
What county is zip code 61081 in?
Zip code 61081 is located in Whiteside County, Illinois. The primary city is Sterling.
What is the area code for zip code 61081?
Zip code 61081 in Sterling, IL uses area code 309. It is located in the Central (CST/CDT) timezone.
Is zip code 61081 a good place to live?
Zip code 61081 (Sterling, IL) has a cost of living index of 60 (100 = national average), a median household income of $60,854, and median home values of $121,000. The median age is 43.3. Visit the full page for demographics, climate, and nearby zip code comparisons.
What is the cost of living in zip code 61081?
The cost of living index for zip code 61081 (Sterling, IL) is 60, where 100 represents the national average. This area is below the national average. Median home value: $121,000.
What schools serve zip code 61081?
Zip code 61081 in Sterling, Illinois is served by the local school district of Whiteside County. For specific school information, check your state's department of education or GreatSchools.org.
All demographic data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. ZIP code boundary and delivery data is sourced from the United States Postal Service (USPS). Data is updated periodically and may not reflect the most current figures. Census Bureau ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) may differ slightly from USPS ZIP code boundaries.
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Data Sources
- Population, income, housing, age, and demographics
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023 vintage.
- ZIP to city and county mapping
- USPS and HUD-USPS ZIP-County Crosswalk.
- Time zones and area codes
- IANA tz database and NANPA.
- Elevation
- U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset (NED), via the USGS Elevation Point Query Service. Mapped to each ZCTA centroid coordinates. Last refreshed 2026-05-19.
- Last refreshed
- 2026-05-18.