The Town FilesMount Sterling, Illinois
City in Brown County · population 2,006 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,200
- Household income
- $59,087
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.3
Mount Sterling is a city of 2,006 people in Brown County, Illinois. The median home is worth $131,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 84% of Illinois towns.
How Mount Sterling ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mount Sterling is worth $131,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $59,087, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $604 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Sterling | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $604 | $960 |
| Median household income | $59,087 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Mount Sterling
| People | Mount Sterling | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mount Sterling
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Sterling since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 2003 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Brown County since 1996
Brown County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Brown County
Brown County had 4,791 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,340 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Mount Sterling itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Mount Sterling
3 public schools with 690 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County Elementary School | PK-4 | 290 | 16.1 |
| Brown County High School | 9-12 | 215 | 12.6 |
| Brown County Middle School | 5-8 | 185 | 13.2 |
Towns near Mount Sterling
- Clayton, IL10.7 mi · 639 people · home $91,500
- Rushville, IL14.0 mi · 3,005 people · home $94,700
- Meredosia, IL15.3 mi · 826 people · home $65,300
- Golden, IL16.0 mi · 648 people · home $122,800
- Camp Point, IL16.2 mi · 1,121 people · home $127,800
- Beardstown, IL17.7 mi · 5,951 people · home $82,100
- Griggsville, IL19.3 mi · 1,097 people · home $86,200
- Liberty, IL19.5 mi · 543 people · home $137,500
Mount Sterling questions
Is Mount Sterling, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Sterling scores better for retirees than 29% of Illinois towns and quieter than 40%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Mount Sterling?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Sterling is valued at $131,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,087, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $604 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Sterling?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.5 inches of snow.
Does Mount Sterling get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Sterling since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 2003. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)