| Metric | Latest | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $169,200 | +14.2% YoY |
| Median price per sq ft | $111 | 1,590 sq ft median |
| Median days on market | 52 | +25% YoY |
| Active listings | 116 | -1% YoY |
| New listings this month | 52 | September 2026 |
| Listings with a price cut | 14% | Share of active |
| Median sale price (closed) | $155,000 | -5.3% YoY · closed sales, July 2026 |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 97.1% | Closed sales, July 2026, seasonally adjusted |
| Pending-to-active ratio | 51.3% | 60 pending |
| Inventory vs 2019 | 43% | Active listings vs same month in 2019 |
Metropolitan market · Illinois · September 2026 data
What is the Sterling, IL real estate market doing?
As of September 2026, the median home listed in Sterling, IL asks $169,200, up 14.2% year over year. Homes spend a median of 52 days on market, with 116 active listings and 14% carrying a price cut; pending contracts equal 51% of active listings, and inventory sits at 43% of the same month in 2019 — a balanced market. Figures come from public records and industry data, updated monthly.
Median listing price
$169,200
▲ 14.2% YoY
Median $ / sq ft
$111
1,590 sq ft median
Median days on market
52
September 2026
Active listings
116
For sale now
New listings
52
September 2026
Listings with price cuts
14%
Share of active
Inventory vs 2019
43%
Same month, 2019 = 100
Pending / active
51%
Contract activity
Median sale price (closed)
$155,000
▼ 5.3% YoY · closed sales · July 2026
Sale-to-list ratio
97.1%
Closed sales · July 2026, seasonally adjusted
Homes sold / month
78
Closed sales · July 2026, seasonally adjusted
What is the Sterling, IL housing market doing right now?
The Sterling, IL housing market lists at a $169,200 median as of September 2026, up 14.2% year over year, with a 52-day median market time and 116 homes for sale (14% with a price cut). Active inventory is 43% of the 2019 level, reading as a balanced market under WealthyBud's published buyer/seller rule.
Sterling housing market statistics
The table summarizes Sterling's key housing figures for September 2026 — median listing and closed-sale prices, market pace, inventory and rental yield — each computed from public records and industry data. Closed-sale figures are Redfin's July 2026 data, the latest settled month Redfin reports for Sterling.
How have home prices changed in Sterling?
Sterling home prices are up 14.2% year over year and +2.5% month over month as of September 2026, at a $169,200 median listing price. The chart tracks the trailing eight-quarter trend in the metro's median asking price.
Median listing price, Sterling IL · trailing 8 quarters · source: public records and industry data.
The 10-year view
10-year median listing price, Sterling IL · June of each year, 2017–2026 · source: public records and industry data.
How much inventory is on the market in Sterling?
Sterling has 116 active listings, 52 new this month, 60 pending as of September 2026. About 14% of active listings have cut their price, and inventory sits at 43% of its 2019 level — a balanced market by pace.
Is Sterling a good real estate investment?
Sterling scores 84/100 on WealthyBud's composite Investor Score, ranking #4 of 933 covered U.S. metros as of September 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat into one percentile. It is a research opinion, not advice.
Investor Score
84/100
#4 of 933 covered metros
Sterling scores 84/100 on our composite Investor Score (#4 of 933 covered metros), a percentile blend of momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market-heat readings; active inventory sits at 43% of its June 2019 level, so supply is still below pre-pandemic norms; listing prices are up 14.2% year over year; all against a national 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 7.28% (national weekly average, 2026-10-01).
Scores are percentile ranks (0–100) across all covered U.S. metros, computed from the public data cited on this page — formulas here. They are data-derived opinions, not investment advice. See how Sterling ranks on the trending markets index.
How much is a monthly mortgage payment in Sterling?
A home at Sterling's $169,200 median listing runs about $926 a month in principal and interest — 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 7.28% national average rate. Taxes, insurance and HOA are extra.
If rates fall 1% · 6.28%
$836/mo
−$90/mo vs today
At today's rate · 7.28%
$926/mo
National weekly average
If rates rise 1% · 8.28%
$1,020/mo
+$94/mo vs today
Principal & interest on the $169,200 median listing with 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan — excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Current rate: 7.28% (national weekly average, 2026-10-01). Model a full deal in the deal analyzer.
How much income do you need to buy a home in Sterling?
To buy Sterling’s $169,200 median listing with 20% down, a household needs about $53,000 a year in gross income, keeping principal, interest and property tax ($1,226/mo) at 28% of income. The area’s median household income is $64,536, so the median listing is within reach of a typical Sterling household on these terms.
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $169,200 | September 2026 |
| Down payment (20%) | $33,840 | Assumption |
| Principal & interest (7.28%, 30-yr fixed) | $926/mo | Rate as of 2026-10-01 |
| Property tax (2.13% effective rate) | $300/mo | Census ACS |
| Income needed (28% rule) | $53,000 | Gross household income / yr |
| Median household income | $64,536 | Census ACS 2023 ACS 5-year |
Excludes homeowners insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance, so the true income needed is higher. Compare every market in the income-needed ranking and the price-to-income ranking.
What is driving the Sterling housing market?
Longer-run demand in Sterling shows up in 27 homes permitted in 2025; net migration of +125 residents. Natural-hazard risk rates Relatively Low. These federal supply-pipeline, migration and jobs signals shape where prices head next.
Building permits (2025)
27
▲ 42.1% vs 2024
0.5 per 1,000 residents
Net migration (2022–2023)
+125
▲ people, via tax-return records
net income flow −$3.27M/yr
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
National hazard index · top hazard: Riverine flooding
Based on public government records — building-permit, tax-return migration, employment and natural-hazard statistics, aggregated to the metro. Details on /methodology.
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ReadSterling housing market FAQ
What is the median home price in Sterling?
As of September 2026, the median listing price in Sterling, IL is $169,200, up 14.2% year over year (source: public records and industry data). Figures cover the Sterling, IL metro area.
How much does it cost to buy a home in Sterling?
The median home listed in Sterling asks $169,200 as of September 2026. With 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 7.28% national average rate, that runs about $926 a month in principal and interest, before taxes, insurance and HOA.
How fast are homes selling in Sterling?
The median property in Sterling spends 52 days on the market, with 116 homes actively listed and 14% of them carrying a price cut — a balanced market as of September 2026.
Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Sterling?
With a median 52 days on market and 14% of active listings carrying a price cut, pending contracts at 51% of active listings, Sterling reads as a balanced market as of September 2026. Labels use WealthyBud's published DOM / sale-to-list / price-cut / pending rule. Conditions shift monthly.
Is Sterling a good place to invest in real estate?
Sterling scores 84/100 on WealthyBud's Investor Score, ranking #4 of 933 covered U.S. metros as of September 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat. It is a data-derived research opinion, not investment advice.
Who are the top real estate agents in Sterling?
See WealthyBud directories for the top-producing agents, teams and brokerages serving Sterling and the wider Illinois market, ranked by recent sales from public profile data.
Based on public records and industry data, September 2026 — see our methodology for how every figure is computed. Figures cover the Sterling, IL metro area. Figures change monthly — verify current conditions with a local agent or MLS. Portions of market data courtesy of Realtor.com and Redfin; additional statistics from U.S. government sources.
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