Sterling, Illinois is a compact, riverfront city of about 14,782 people with a walkable downtown, historic character and community-focused amenities that make it an affordable, comfortable base for multi-week contracts rather than a place you’ll quickly tire of.
Bigger-city options are within reach — Rockford is roughly a 70–75 minute drive (about 71 miles) for museums, regional healthcare and an airport, and the Quad Cities (Davenport/Moline) are about a 65-mile drive for more dining, shopping and weekend entertainment — so you’ll have solid weekend variety without living in a nonstop city center.