Residential delivery area · Illinois
ZIP Code 61081: Sterling, IL
ZIP code 61081 uses the postal name Sterling, Illinois and lies mostly in Whiteside County (95% of its land) with the rest in Lee County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 21,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $67,586 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Sterling (5%), Como (under 1%), Coleta (under 1%) and Galt (under 1%); 94% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Sterling · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Whiteside County (95%); Lee County (5%)
- Census places
- Sterling (5%); Como (under 1%) census-designated place; Coleta (under 1%); Galt (under 1%) census-designated place
- Micro area
- Sterling, IL
- House districts
- IL-17 (95%), IL-16 (5%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Illinois
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 124.4 sq mi · 168 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 61081?
61081 centers on 41.850°, -89.739° and covers 124.4 square miles of land plus 2.1 of water. It borders 9 ZIP codes: 61037, 61071, 61051, 61014, 61270, 61261, 61064, 61021, 61277.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 61081, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 61081 compare with the rest of Whiteside County?
| Measure | 61081 | In Whiteside County | In IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 20,844 | 1st of 13 | 229th of 1,396 |
| Median household income | $68k | 4th of 6 | 543rd of 797 |
| Median home value | $123k | 6th of 9 | 654th of 842 |
Its median household income is higher than in 43% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 61% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 61081?
The 2020 Census counted 21,064 people in 61081; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 20,844. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 4.0% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 20,844
- 2020 Census count
- 21,064−4.0% since 2010 (21,934)
- Households
- 8,884
- Median age
- 43.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 61081?
Of the 20,844 people the ACS estimates in 61081, 20.4% are under 18 and 22.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (70.1%), then Hispanic or Latino (21.8%).
- Under 1820.4%
- 18 to 6457.1%
- 65 and older22.5%
- White, not Hispanic70.1%
- Hispanic or Latino21.8%
- Other or two or more5.0%
- Black, not Hispanic2.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 61081 earn?
Median household income is $67,586 (ACS 2020-2024), the 4th highest of the 6 ranked ZIP codes in Whiteside County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($63,837 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $67,586
- Income per person
- $38,370
- Below the poverty line
- 12.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 22.2%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $65,53710,180 returns; wages 66% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 61081?
FHFA's house price index for 61081, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 59% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 41% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +5.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $123,400
- Median gross rent
- $870
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 72.8%
- Housing units
- 9,829
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 61081?
490 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 1 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade82
- Health care and social assistance60
- Other services (except public administration)58
- Accommodation and food services57
- Construction43
- Finance and insurance34
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 61081?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61037 | Galt | 145 | $70k | 4.4 mi |
| 61071 | Rock Falls | 13,581 | $61k | 8.9 mi |
| 61051 | Milledgeville | 1,469 | $60k | 9.3 mi |
| 61014 | Chadwick | 1,067 | $69k | 11.5 mi |
| 61270 | Morrison | 6,912 | $81k | 11.6 mi |
| 61261 | Lyndon | 656 | $64k | 11.8 mi |
| 61064 | Polo | 3,757 | $75k | 12.4 mi |
| 61021 | Dixon | 22,308 | $69k | 13.6 mi |
| 61277 | Prophetstown | 3,054 | $70k | 19.1 mi |
| 61091 | Woosung | 248 | – | 10.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.