At a Glance
Median Income
$125,753
$46,400 per capita
Home Value
$508,400
Zillow: $631,360
Median Rent
$1,979/mo
27.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
37.3%
79.1% high school+
Unemployment
4.7%
7.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
31.9%
11.0% smoking rate
How Sterling Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Sterling's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Sterling a Good Place to Live?
A
4.3 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Sterling residents earn a median household income of $125,753 , which is 67% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $46,400. The unemployment rate stands at 4.7% (31% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 14,735 business establishments, including 863 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Sterling is $508,400 , 80% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $631,360. Median rent is $1,979/month, with 27.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 101.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1981.
Education
37.3% of adults in Sterling hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(11% above the national average).
79.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Sterling has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C).
Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 43.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population31,251
Median Age34.8 yrs
Density5,734/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born44.2%
Veterans5.0%
Economy
A+
Median Income$125,753
Per Capita$46,400
Unemployment4.7%
Poverty7.5%
County GDP$44,855M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,631
Housing
A
Home Value$508,400
Rent$1,979
Ownership75.3%
Zillow$631,360
Housing Units9,956
Rent Burden27.7%
Health
Obesity31.9%
Diabetes11.4%
Smoking11.0%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death3,355/100K
Climate
Avg Temp56°F
Rain43.2 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation338 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+37.3%
High School+79.1%
Graduate+11.8%
School Score6.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 40% / D 57%
Commute26 min
Broadband93.8%
Internet Speed158 Mbps
EV Stations73
Libraries11
Did You Know?
The median home in Sterling was built in 1981.
The nearest airport is Washington Dulles International (9 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.392 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
6.3% of the population has a disability.
44.2% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 158 Mbps.
There are 863 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 15 fatal vehicle crashes.