Township · Illinois

Mount Sterling Township, Illinois

Mount Sterling Township, township, in Brown County, Illinois. Mount Sterling Township had 4,448 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,297 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,157 (±174). GEOID 1700951167.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

4,448

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,297 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,157 ±174

Median household income

$65,481

±$7,307 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$143,700

±$16,811 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$604

±$215 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is Mount Sterling Township and what county is it in?

Mount Sterling Township is a township in Brown County, Illinois. It covers 37.2 square miles of land, 116 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside Mount Sterling Township: Mount Sterling (city, 2,006 in 2020).

Mount Sterling Township (marked with a dot) in Brown County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Mount Sterling Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 4,448 people lived in Mount Sterling Township on July 1, 2025, up 3.4% since 2020, while Illinois shrank 0.8%. The 2020 Census counted 4,297 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,157 (±174).

  • July 2020→2021 +116 (4,409)
  • 2021→2022 +45 (4,454)
  • 2022→2023 +59 (4,513)
  • 2023→2024 −38 (4,475)
  • 2024→2025 −27 (4,448)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureMount Sterling TownshipBrown CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Total population4,157±1746,32212,694,798−352
Households1,078±1192,0415,036,449no clear change
Average household size2.06±0.172.152.46−0.26
Housing units1,164±1052,3215,457,452no clear change

Mount Sterling Township's population since 2000

From 4,562 in 2000 to 4,448 in 2025: down 2.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Mount Sterling Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 4,562
  • 2005 (estimate) 4,616
  • 2010 Census 4,673
  • 2015 (estimate) 4,536
  • 2020 Census 4,297
  • 2025 (estimate) 4,448

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Mount Sterling Township?

The median resident of Mount Sterling Township is 38.9 years old; 13.6% are under 18 and 13.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 62.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 27.0%. 2.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureMount Sterling TownshipBrown CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median age38.9±1.941.039.0no clear change
Under 18 years13.6%±1.9 pts16.8%21.8%–
65 years and over13.7%±1.8 pts16.3%17.0%–
Male71.2%±2.2 pts63.9%49.4%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)9.1%±1.6 pts6.7%18.8%no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic62.0%±2.2 pts74.1%58.1%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic27.0%±2.5 pts17.8%13.3%no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.1 pts0.0%5.9%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.1 pts0.0%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.8%±1.4 pts1.3%3.4%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.0%0.4%–
Born outside the United States2.3%±1.1 pts1.6%14.7%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)10.0%±2.4 pts7.0%24.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)4.5%±1.9 pts4.0%4.8%–
With a disability21.3%±5.2 pts20.5%12.1%–
No health insurance coverage0.5%±0.6 pts2.1%6.9%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)68.9%±4.5 pts76.7%90.5%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)11.5%±3.2 pts12.6%37.8%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)2.9%±1.4 pts2.8%15.3%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier79.1%±5.8 pts83.9%88.9%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.5%±1.5 pts1.0%1.6%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Mount Sterling Township earn?

Half of Mount Sterling Township's 1,078 households earn less than $65,481 a year (±$7,307), against $67,917 in Brown County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $74,247 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $8,766 after inflation. 10.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureMount Sterling TownshipBrown CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$65,481±$7,307$67,917$83,390−$8,766
Mean household income$79,446±$13,434$81,732$115,638–
Per capita income$20,581±$2,843$26,202$46,406no clear change
People below the poverty line10.5%±4.1 pts9.2%11.8%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line11.1%±8.5 pts10.3%15.1%–
Households receiving SNAP14.2%±6.0 pts12.1%13.8%–
Households with a computer91.4%±5.3 pts92.4%95.2%–
Households with a broadband subscription78.9%±7.7 pts84.6%90.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Mount Sterling Township?

Owners occupy 57.3% of Mount Sterling Township's occupied homes and renters 42.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $143,700 by its owner (±$16,811). The median renter pays $604 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureMount Sterling TownshipBrown CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$143,700±$16,811$150,300$263,300+$24,938
Median gross rent$604±$215$698$1,274no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent16.0%±11.1 pts24.8%39.0%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,173±$185$1,147$1,987–
Owner-occupied homes57.3%±9.1 pts71.8%67.1%−11.2 pts
Renter-occupied homes42.7%±9.1 pts28.2%32.9%–
Housing units1,164±1052,3215,457,452no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate2.1%±3.0 pts0.9%1.0%–
Rental vacancy rate2.5%±3.9 pts5.6%5.0%–
Single-family detached homes72.8%±7.0 pts81.1%58.2%–
Mobile homes1.0%±1.0 pts5.0%2.3%–
Built 2020 or later1.0%±1.4 pts0.9%0.7%–
Built 2010 to 20193.0%±2.4 pts3.0%5.0%–
Built 1939 or earlier22.8%±7.3 pts30.1%20.2%–
Households with no vehicle12.7%±6.5 pts8.5%11.0%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Mount Sterling Township work and get to work?

74.3% of Mount Sterling Township's workers drive alone and 7.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 13.3 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureMount Sterling TownshipBrown CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)32.0%±3.7 pts41.4%65.0%–
Unemployment rate2.6%±4.0 pts3.1%5.8%–
Drove alone to work74.3%±9.7 pts80.8%65.9%–
Carpooled11.3%±5.1 pts7.7%7.8%–
Public transportation0.1%±0.2 pts0.1%5.8%–
Walked6.6%±5.3 pts3.5%2.8%–
Worked from home7.8%±4.7 pts7.3%15.9%no clear change
Mean travel time to work13.3 min±2.415.9 min27.8 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Mount Sterling Township?

1 census tract lies mostly in Mount Sterling Township, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Mount Sterling Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Mount Sterling Township
Tract 9705Brown County4,031 $61,806 $137,400100%
Tract 9704Brown County2,291 $75,524 $161,00012%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Mount Sterling Township) · Census block assignment files

How does Mount Sterling Township compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Mount Sterling Township is the 2,552nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 260th-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.

Mount Sterling Township ranks 959th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Mount Sterling Township's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate260th1,407
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)79th1,347
Residents per square mile979th1,383
Median household income959th1,380
Per capita income1,370th1,383
Median home value869th1,379
Median gross rent1,238th1,280
Poverty rate527th1,119
Bachelor's degree or higher1,292nd1,369
Median age954th1,383
Owner-occupied share1,309th1,382
Work from home766th1,015
Travel time to work1,376th1,382

Mount Sterling Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Mount Sterling Township with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Mount Sterling Township?

17 of the 57 figures for Mount Sterling Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Mount Sterling Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.