County · Illinois

Whiteside County, Illinois

Whiteside County, Illinois. Whiteside County had 54,121 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 35 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs, 22 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 19 census tracts. GEOID 17195.

Whiteside County is the county of the Sterling, IL micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

54,121

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 55,691 · ACS 2020-2024: 54,947

Median household income

$67,500

±$2,936 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$127,100

±$6,398 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$856

±$37 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Whiteside County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 55,691 residents in Whiteside County. The Census Bureau estimates 54,121 for July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 54,947 over 684 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −256 (55,299)
2021→2022 −747 (54,552)
2022→2023 −72 (54,480)
2023→2024 −57 (54,423)
2024→2025 −302 (54,121)

Whiteside County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Whiteside County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	54,947	12,694,798	−1,069
Households	23,120±396	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.33±0.04	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	25,837±91	5,457,452	no clear change

Whiteside County's population since 2000

From 60,653 in 2000 to 54,121 in 2025: down 10.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 60,653
2005 (estimate) 59,094
2010 Census 58,498
2015 (estimate) 56,943
2020 Census 55,691
2025 (estimate) 54,121

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Whiteside County?

Whiteside County holds 35 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 22 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Sterling Township with 16,822 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Whiteside County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Sterling Township	township	17,357	17,089±37	$61,764	$115,200	13.6%	100%
Sterling	city	14,764	14,717±370	$57,350	$108,700	15.3%	100%
Coloma Township	township	10,568	10,446±26	$52,152	$86,800	22.3%	100%
Rock Falls	city	8,789	8,587±305	$49,600	$83,900	25.6%	100%
Mount Pleasant Township	township	4,807	4,720±19	$74,185	$145,200	7.0%	100%
Fulton Township	township	4,346	4,303±20	$48,878	$129,100	13.4%	100%
Morrison	city	4,085	3,739±360	$69,089	$118,000	8.1%	100%
Fulton	city	3,647	3,709±167	$45,581	$121,700	14.8%	100%
Prophetstown Township	township	2,463	2,527±295	$68,618	$136,100	10.4%	100%
Montmorency Township	township	2,459	2,539±275	$92,147	$163,800	4.4%	100%
Hopkins Township	township	1,978	2,148±346	$97,075	$164,200	6.8%	100%
Prophetstown	city	1,946	1,903±249	$65,125	$116,600	11.7%	100%
Erie Township	township	1,879	1,930±324	$82,426	$157,100	3.1%	100%
Erie	village	1,518	1,614±309	$82,760	$151,900	3.0%	100%
Union Grove TownshipGEOID 1719576758	township	1,172	1,419±334	$106,250	$209,200	0.6%	100%
Albany Township	township	1,041	823±169	$63,571	$149,200	3.8%	100%
Tampico Township	township	1,004	859±167	$56,094	$108,400	14.6%	100%
Garden Plain TownshipGEOID 1719528586	township	973	1,161±275	$116,078	$198,600	3.0%	100%
Lyndon TownshipGEOID 1719545291	township	930	656±156	$64,375	$134,100	2.9%	100%
Albany	village	864	776±163	$62,857	$148,800	4.0%	100%
Jordan TownshipGEOID 1719538700	township	825	838±226	$96,042	$234,400	3.6%	100%
Genesee TownshipGEOID 1719528833	township	756	615±250	$82,500	$123,100	12.3%	100%
Tampico	village	689	565±126	$56,250	$86,000	13.0%	100%
Fenton TownshipGEOID 1719525817	township	561	600±180	$58,950	$214,200	10.3%	100%
Ustick TownshipGEOID 1719577070	township	553	410±153	$101,083	$217,500	0.0%	100%
LyndonGEOID 1745278	village	537	433±119	$60,104	$113,500	4.4%	100%
ComoGEOID 1715950	CDP	528	535±204	$63,750	$175,700	20.6%	100%
Portland TownshipGEOID 1719561262	township	458	404±183	$118,504	$328,100	0.0%	100%
Clyde TownshipGEOID 1719515144	township	438	258±107	$50,179	$132,100	3.5%	100%
Newton TownshipGEOID 1719552857	township	424	489±237	$109,219	$147,100	0.0%	100%
Hume TownshipGEOID 1719536581	township	351	574±287	$138,125	$200,600	3.1%	100%
Hahnaman TownshipGEOID 1719532174	township	348	139±70	$116,875	$146,400	5.8%	100%
GaltGEOID 1728404	CDP	193	213±131	$112,569	not published	4.2%	100%
ColetaGEOID 1715469	village	167	169±75	$56,875	$111,800	11.7%	100%
Deer GroveGEOID 1719031	village	38	36±23	$76,607	$112,500	11.1%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Whiteside County?

The median resident of Whiteside County is 43.0 years old; 22.0% are under 18 and 21.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.3%. 3.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Whiteside County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.0±0.3	39.0	−0.4
Under 18 years	22.0%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	21.8%±0.1 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	13.3%	18.8%	+1.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	80.9%±0.6 pts	58.1%	−3.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.2%±0.3 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.1 pts	5.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.6%±0.7 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	3.0%±0.6 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	7.2%±0.9 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.1%±0.9 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	15.2%±1.1 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.0%±0.9 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	91.9%±1.1 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	20.5%±1.3 pts	37.8%	+2.3 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.7%±0.9 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.5 pts	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 Whiteside County earn?

Half of Whiteside County's 23,120 households earn less than $67,500 a year (±$2,936), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $66,743 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Whiteside County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$67,500±$2,936	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$86,592±$3,435	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$37,312±$1,417	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	12.0%±1.6 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	17.7%±4.2 pts	15.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	14.1%±1.6 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.7%±1.5 pts	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 Whiteside County?

Owners occupy 76.9% of Whiteside County's occupied homes and renters 23.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,100 by its owner (±$6,398). The median renter pays $856 a month including utilities, and 37.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Whiteside County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$127,100±$6,398	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$856±$37	$1,274	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	37.1%±6.1 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,216±$29	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	76.9%±1.8 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	25,837±91	5,457,452	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.8%±0.9 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	8.4%±2.7 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	81.5%±1.5 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	2.3%±0.6 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	25.3%±1.7 pts	20.2%	–

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 many new homes is Whiteside County building?

Builders took permits for 23 new housing units across Whiteside County in 2025 (23 single-family), 0.4 per 1,000 residents.

2019 15 units
2020 22 units
2021 23 units
2022 28 units
2023 26 units
2024 25 units
2025 23 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Whiteside County get to work?

80.8% of Whiteside County's workers drive alone and 6.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Whiteside County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	61.9%±1.2 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	4.4%±0.8 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.8%±1.8 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	8.6%±1.5 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.3 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	2.7%±0.8 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	6.1%±1.1 pts	15.9%	+3.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	20.3 min±1.0	27.8 min	no 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 are Whiteside County's census tracts?

Whiteside County is divided into 19 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $38,523 (Tract 17) to $103,654 (Tract 18).

Census tracts of Whiteside County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 117195000100	Como (5%)	3,527	3,581±363	$95,546	$177,100	$1,020	7.0%
Tract 217195000200	Morrison (27%)	3,008	2,929±412	$86,094	$194,300	$797	3.9%
Tract 317195000300	Morrison (78%)	3,249	3,216±416	$72,875	$122,400	$746	6.9%
Tract 417195000400	Albany (20%)	3,031	3,051±349	$93,750	$177,200	$919	3.5%
Tract 517195000500	Fulton (95%)	3,645	3,709±167	$45,581	$121,700	$954	14.8%
Tract 617195000600	Erie (16%)	4,012	3,742±320	$78,273	$159,800	$879	3.7%
Tract 717195000700	Prophetstown (48%)	2,736	2,737±270	$75,000	$152,400	$794	8.6%
Tract 817195000800	Tampico (21%)	1,946	1,803±263	$80,000	$154,600	$986	9.9%
Tract 917195000900	Sterling (40%)	3,623	3,467±429	$72,232	$171,100	$1,513	9.8%
Tract 1017195001000	Sterling (89%)	2,939	2,610±431	$43,641	$91,900	$809	13.4%
Tract 11.0117195001101	Sterling (99%)	2,639	2,829±394	$83,553	$124,300	$785	3.3%
Tract 11.0217195001102	Sterling	2,108	1,736±258	$55,768	$94,600	$917	8.6%
Tract 1217195001200	Sterling (99%)	3,842	3,741±336	$63,919	$107,300	$939	21.4%
Tract 1317195001300	Sterling (87%)	2,417	2,848±296	$57,358	$136,900	$762	20.6%
Tract 1417195001400	Rock Falls (44%)	2,243	2,456±248	$88,417	$124,800	$883	3.4%
Tract 1517195001500	Rock Falls (98%)	3,218	2,968±364	$48,963	$77,500	$836	12.9%
Tract 1617195001600	Rock Falls (90%)	2,538	2,241±296	$49,846	$89,000	$818	23.1%
Tract 1717195001700	Rock Falls (51%)	2,892	3,047±334	$38,523	$76,700	$729	44.8%
Tract 1817195001800	–	2,078	2,236±269	$103,654	$168,400	$1,150	4.0%

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

How does Whiteside County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Whiteside County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	24th of 102
Growth 2020-2025	63rd of 102
Residents per square mile	29th of 102
Median household income	48th of 102
Median home value	61st of 102
Median gross rent	35th of 102
Poverty rate	59th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	59th of 102
Median age	43rd of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Whiteside County 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.