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Living in
Sterling.
Sterling is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Sterling
If you're considering Sterling, understand that this is a working suburb first—a place where people commute to tech jobs and federal offices rather than a destination community. The median household income is solid at around $123,000, and the job market is strong with major employers like Neustar and federal agencies providing stability, though you'll likely find yourself driving to jobs in Arlington, Reston, or Dulles regularly. The median home price hovers near $530,000 with rent around $2,138 monthly, which reflects Northern Virginia's regional cost of living rather than bargain pricing.
Sterling at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Foreign-Born
46.5%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics46.5% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Sterling: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sterling, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (40.8%), and 44.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.1%
of households
Married Couples
53.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 35% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Sterling
In Sterling, rent runs 35% above the VA average, and home values are 37% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,412
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $629,456 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Sterling and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Loudoun County, which includes Sterling, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Sterling: Loudoun County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Loudoun County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sterling Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute24.2 min avg
How Sterling residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sterling, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, which covers Sterling, runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
72.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
545.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Loudoun County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 31 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Loudoun County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Loudoun County, which includes Sterling, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 31 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $208,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $931,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $210,000 |
| 2022 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $279,500 |
| 2020 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.0M |
| 2019 | 46 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 39 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Loudoun County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Loudoun County, which includes Sterling, is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
70
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Loudoun County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sterling has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.1"
Annual Snowfall
21.0"
Hot Days/Year
32
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
119
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 25°F | 3.12" |
| Feb | 45°F | 26°F | 2.63" |
| Mar | 54°F | 33°F | 3.79" |
| Apr | 66°F | 43°F | 3.45" |
| May | 74°F | 53°F | 4.92" |
| Jun | 83°F | 63°F | 4.61" |
| Jul | 87°F | 67°F | 4.06" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 3.65" |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 4.13" |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 4.04" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.21" |
| Dec | 46°F | 29°F | 3.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sterling
Uninsured
18.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sterling's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Reston Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Reston
Inova Loudoun Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Leesburg
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 8.2 mi away · Fairfax
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education9.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sterling
Sterling's student/teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sterling (within 15 miles)
Northern Virginia Community College
14.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,048 students · in-state tuition $6,062 · 30% graduate · median earnings $56,892 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Virginia
11.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 557 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 70% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church
13.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 348 students · in-state tuition $25,133 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
University of the Potomac-VA Campus
12 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 157 students · in-state tuition $6,660 · 80% graduate · median earnings $43,211 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sterling
Sterling has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
8 mi awayWolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
National Park Site
9 mi awayPotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
12 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
14 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
14 mi awayManassas National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
15 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sterling
Sterling Library
22330 S. Sterling Blvd Suite A117, Sterling
Cities Near Sterling
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sterling?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sterling FAQ
Is Sterling, Virginia affordable?⌄
Sterling's median rent is $2,138/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $123,303/year. Median home value is $526,000.
Is Sterling, Virginia safe?⌄
Sterling is policed by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 72 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 545 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sterling, Virginia?⌄
Loudoun County, which includes Sterling, has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sterling, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Sterling is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,138/month and median household income is $123,303/year. The median home value is $526,000. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sterling, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Sterling is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from