Whiteside County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Whiteside County, Illinois had an estimated 54,657 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 55,700, across 684 square miles. County output reached $2.98 bn in 2024, 1,158 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $7.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Whiteside County
How many people live in Whiteside County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202454,947
- Households23,120
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$67,500
- Median age43.0
- Median gross rent$856 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$127,100
- Home value to household income1.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over38,673
- Population under 1812,065
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over11,967
- Share 65 and over21.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6430,915
- Civilian labor force27,351
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.8 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties24th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included946th of 3,222
Whiteside County is the 24th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 1.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.0 percent against 21.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Whiteside County
Is Whiteside County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202454,657
- Census 2020 base population55,700
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.87 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202475
- Births, 2024568
- Deaths, 2024742
- Natural change, 2024-174
- Net domestic migration, 2024147
- Net international migration, 2024109
- Total net migration, 2024256
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-321
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2469th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.87 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Whiteside County
Where are people moving to Whiteside County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,042
- People arriving, from those returns1,821
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,167
- Net household movement-125
- Adjusted gross income arriving$53.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-15.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$50,947
- Average income of a leaving household$59,023
- Largest single originLee County (191 households)
- Largest single destinationLee County (174 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 191 | 318 | $9.3 m |
| Clinton County | 104 | 191 | $3.9 m |
| Rock Island County | 55 | 101 | $2.7 m |
| Ogle County | 53 | 92 | $2.2 m |
| Carroll County | 50 | 107 | $2.4 m |
| Cook County | 41 | 70 | $2.6 m |
| Scott County | 27 | 39 | $970,000 |
| Bureau County | 25 | 48 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $8,076 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Lee County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Whiteside County
What is the Whiteside County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.98 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.84 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.9 percent
- GDP change over five years37.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes29th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes986th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,194
Output grew 4.9 percent in the latest year and 37.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Whiteside County
Employment by industry in Whiteside County
- Covered employment, annual average21,197
- Establishments reporting1,185
- Average annual pay$54,164
- Average weekly wage$1,042
- Manufacturing, employment3,442
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$69,631
- Retail trade, employment2,531
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,326
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,232
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,986
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,848
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,758
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,442
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment903
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,442 | 80 | $69,631 |
| Retail trade | 2,531 | 166 | $34,326 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,232 | 103 | $66,986 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,848 | 132 | $18,758 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,442 | 48 | $56,796 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 903 | 59 | $63,376 |
| Construction | 838 | 106 | $73,187 |
| Wholesale trade | 636 | 71 | $70,511 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,442 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Whiteside County
How many businesses are in Whiteside County?
- Establishments, all industries1,158
- Employment at those establishments17,838
- Annual payroll$862.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Whiteside County
Building permits in Whiteside County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202425
- Declared construction value permitted$7.8 m
- Single family units authorized21
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units16.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$312,566
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.1
Single-family homes are 84.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Whiteside County
SBA loans in Whiteside County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$320,626
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$848,400
- Largest single approval$1,235,300
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)199
- Jobs per approval8.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term180 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer39.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter10
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals17.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (6)
- Most active lenderCitizens First Bank (7)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.4 m
- Average 504 approval$395,000
- Median 504 approval$262,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval34.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved87.3
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$9.7 m
The average approval of $320,626 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 39.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Whiteside County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Whiteside County
Do SBA loans in Whiteside County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure12
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Whiteside County
SBA lending by place in Whiteside County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Fulton, approvals8
- Morrison, approvals7
- Sterling, approvals3
- Rock Falls, approvals3
- Prophetstown, approvals1
- Albany, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton | 8 | $1,313,400 |
| Morrison | 7 | $3,919,200 |
| Sterling | 3 | $1,206,000 |
| Rock Falls | 3 | $635,800 |
| Prophetstown | 1 | $250,000 |
| Albany | 1 | $50,000 |
Fulton accounts for 8 approvals against 7 in Morrison. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Whiteside County
How large is Whiteside County?
- Land area684 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties26th of 102
- Width, east to west31.7 mi
- Height, north to south23.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land80
- Establishments per square mile1.69
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Whiteside County
Flood risk in Whiteside County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Whiteside County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 170687
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Whiteside County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Whiteside County (community 170687), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Whiteside County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 90.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Whiteside County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Whiteside County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202454,947
- Households23,120
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$67,500
- Median age43.0
Common questions
Whiteside County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Whiteside County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 54,657 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 54,947, in 23,120 households, ranking 24th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Whiteside County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.87 percent since the 2020 census base of 55,700, to 54,657 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 568 births against 742 deaths, with net migration of 256. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Whiteside County?
$67,500. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,100, which is 1.9 times income, and median gross rent is $856 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Whiteside County?
1,158 establishments, employing 17,838 people with an annual payroll of $862.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Whiteside County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,442 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 21,197 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,164, or $1,042 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Whiteside County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $7.4 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $2.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Whiteside County?
25 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.8 m. Multifamily was 16.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Whiteside County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Whiteside County come from?
The largest single origin is Lee County, with 191 households. Arriving households report an average income of $50,947 against $59,023 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Whiteside County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Whiteside County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Whiteside County
Cities and places in Whiteside.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Whiteside County. All 13 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | city | 14,717 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Rock Falls | city | 8,587 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Morrison | city | 3,739 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Fulton | city | 3,709 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Prophetstown | city | 1,903 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Erie | village | 1,614 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Albany | village | 776 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Tampico | village | 565 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Como | CDP | 535 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lyndon | village | 433 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Galt | CDP | 213 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coleta | village | 169 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Deer Grove | village | 36 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby