Sterling, Illinois · ZIP 61081

Sterling — ZIP 61081

Sterling (61081) scores 46/100 — Below Average for Illinois. Safety: Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier. Schools: Lower reported proficiency or limited grade-band coverage. A mid-range price profile for the state. The typical home value here is $145K.

Overall NeighborScore

DBelow Average

Tap a tab to compare 61081 against its city, state, or the nation.

Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier.

Safety index45/100

Violent crime share18%

Property crime share82%

Lower reported proficiency or limited grade-band coverage.

School index47/100

Avg reading proficiency18%

Schools nearby6

A mid-range price profile for the state.

Affordability index62/100

Typical home value$145K

How this score is calculated: the NeighborScore composite weights crime 53% and schools 47%, each normalized to the local area. Home affordability is shown for context and is not factored into the overall score. Sources & methodology →

Last refreshed — Schools: Aug 2026 · Real estate: Aug 2026 · Demographics: Jun 2026

Nearby Neighborhoods

Not the right fit? See how adjacent ZIPs score — tap to jump over.

Rock Falls, IllinoisRock FallsZIP 61071

38▼8 vs here

Harmon, IllinoisHarmonZIP 61042

75▲29 vs here

Dixon, IllinoisDixonZIP 61021

72▲26 vs here

Tampico, IllinoisTampicoZIP 61283

39▼7 vs here

Real Estate Snapshot

Typical Home Value

$145K

Median Rent

—

Days on Market

—

Sale-to-List

—

Typical Home Value — 23 Months

Crime Overview

Total Incidents

633

Violent Crime

105

Property Crime

528

Crime statistics for this area are estimated from FBI-reported county-level data for Whiteside County, Illinois (2025). This ZIP does not yet have city-specific monthly crime data, so figures reflect the entire county rather than this ZIP alone.

Full Crime Report →

Nearby Schools

	Grades
Sterling High School	09–12	999	Not reported	17%
Challand Middle School	06–08	726	Not reported	19%
Jefferson Elem School	PK–02	450	Not reported	Not reported
Franklin Elem School	PK–02	407	Not reported	Not reported
Washington Elem School	03–05	394	Not reported	20%
Lincoln Elem School	03–05	277	Not reported	17%

Directory and latest enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data (SY 2024–25 where reported). Proficiency: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts SY 2021–22; state standards are not directly comparable.

Note: schools marked “Not reported” (often small or specialized programs) lack state proficiency data and aren't included in the Schools score.

Full School Report →

Demographics

Population

20,916

Median Income

$68K

Homeownership

73%

Median Age

43.3 yrs

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2024).

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

ZIP 61081 has a reported-crime score of 45/100. A higher score represents a lower reported-crime rate under the best available data tier for this ZIP; it is not a guarantee of safety. Review the crime report and current local police data before making a decision.

ZIP 61081 has a school score of 47/100. The index combines reported SY 2021–22 math and reading proficiency with grade-band coverage. Nearby or county-level estimates may be used where ZIP-level reporting is sparse, and state assessment standards are not directly comparable.

The latest home value or sale-price figure available for ZIP 61081 is approximately $145K. The profile identifies the underlying source; Zillow ZHVI is a typical home value measure, while Redfin data is a median sale-price measure. These are different metrics and may lag current listings.

ZIP 61081 in Sterling has an overall NeighborScore of 46/100. It combines the crime score (53%) and school score (47%); affordability is context only. Use the component data and its coverage notes rather than treating the composite as a complete measure of livability.