Sterling, VA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Sterling, Virginia Summary

Life in Sterling research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Sterling over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Sterling:

  • The population in Sterling is 31,251.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $630,465.

  • The median income in Sterling is $125,753.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 133 which is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Sterling is $1,979.

  • The unemployment rate in Sterling is 4.7%.

  • The poverty rate in Sterling is 6.8%.

  • The average high in Sterling is 66.0° and the average low is 44.6°.

Sterling SnackAbility

7
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
5
Diversity
10
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9.5
Education
7
Commute
6

Sterling, VA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Sterling summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Sterling. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Virginia. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 133 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Sterling is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $630,465.

  • The median income in Sterling is $125,753.

133
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Sterling Comparison Table

Living Expense Sterling Virginia National Average
Overall 133 110 100
Services 110 101 100
Groceries 106 99 100
Health 97 98 100
Housing 204 130 100
Transportation 93 94 100
Utilities 111 104 100

Sterling, VA Weather

  • The average high in Sterling is 66.0° and the average low is 44.6°.

  • There are 74.7 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 42.0 inches of precipitation each year with 21.5 inches of snow.

StatSterling
Average Annual High66.0
Average Annual Low44.6
Annual Precipitation Days74.7
Average Annual Precipitation42.0
Average Annual Snowfall21.5
66.0°
Average High
74.7
Days of Rain

Rankings for Sterling in Virginia

Locations Around Sterling

Map Of Sterling, VA

Best Places Around Sterling

1

North Potomac, MD
Population 23,994

2

South Kensington, MD
Population 8,057

3

Clarksburg, MD
Population 29,246

4

Travilah, MD
Population 11,128

5

Chevy Chase, MD
Population 9,484

6

Chevy Chase, MD
Population 9,484

7

Chevy Chase, MD
Population 9,484

8

Darnestown, MD
Population 6,835

9

Franklin Farm, VA
Population 18,509

10

Bethesda, MD
Population 67,403

Sterling Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Sterling

The current population in Sterling is 31,251. The population has increased 22.5% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 31,251 0.6%
2022 31,058 -0.5%
2021 31,202 1.1%
2020 30,872 2.0%
2019 30,271 -0.4%
2018 30,403 0.1%
2017 30,378 2.6%
2016 29,597 2.5%
2015 28,883 -0.5%
2014 29,016 7.4%
2013 27,013 3.2%
2012 26,169 2.1%
2011 25,635 0.5%
2010 25,516 -

Race / Ethnicity in Sterling

White
28.0% (8,739)
African American
6.3% (1,956)
American Indian
0.1% (24)
Asian
13.5% (4,220)
Hawaiian
0.2% (49)
Other
0.4% (110)
Two Or More
1.8% (557)
Hispanic
49.9% (15,596)

Sterling is:

  • 28.0% White with 8,739 White residents.

  • 6.3% African American with 1,956 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 24 American Indian residents.

  • 13.5% Asian with 4,220 Asian residents.

  • 0.2% Hawaiian with 49 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.4% Other with 110 Other residents.

  • 1.8% Two Or More with 557 Two Or More residents.

  • 49.9% Hispanic with 15,596 Hispanic residents.

Race Sterling VA USA
White 28.0% 59.0% 58.2%
African American 6.3% 18.4% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 13.5% 6.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.2% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.4% 0.5% 0.5%
Two Or More 1.8% 4.3% 3.9%
Hispanic 49.9% 10.7% 19.0%

Gender in Sterling

Female
48.8% (15,242)
Male
51.2% (16,008)
  • Sterling is 48.8% female with 15,242 female residents.

  • Sterling is 51.2% male with 16,008 male residents.

Gender Sterling VA USA
Female 48.8% 50.6% 50.5%
Male 51.2% 49.4% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Sterling for adults over 25

  • 10.0% of adults in Sterling completed < 9th grade.

  • 11.0% of adults in Sterling completed 9-12th grade.

  • 20.0% of adults in Sterling completed high school / ged.

  • 15.0% of adults in Sterling completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in Sterling completed associate's degree.

  • 25.0% of adults in Sterling completed bachelor's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Sterling completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Sterling completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Sterling completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
10.0% (3,125)
9-12th Grade
11.0% (3,437)
High School / GED
20.0% (6,250)
Some College
15.0% (4,687)
Associate's Degree
7.0% (2,187)
Bachelor's Degree
25.0% (7,812)
Master's Degree
9.0% (2,812)
Professional Degree
1.0% (312)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (625)
Education Sterling VA USA
< 9th Grade 10.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 11.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 20.0% 24.0% 26.0%
Some College 15.0% 18.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 25.0% 23.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 9.0% 13.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Sterling, Virginia

  • 2.9% of households in Sterling earn Less than $10,000.

  • 0.3% of households in Sterling earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 4.3% of households in Sterling earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 4.9% of households in Sterling earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 5.6% of households in Sterling earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 8.7% of households in Sterling earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 11.6% of households in Sterling earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 23.4% of households in Sterling earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 17.1% of households in Sterling earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 21.3% of households in Sterling earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
2.9% (89,389)
$10,000 to $14,999
0.3% (10,003)
$15,000 to $24,999
4.3% (135,537)
$25,000 to $34,999
4.9% (152,963)
$35,000 to $49,999
5.6% (173,939)
$50,000 to $74,999
8.7% (271,397)
$75,000 to $99,999
11.6% (361,432)
$100,000 to $149,999
23.4% (731,255)
$150,000 to $199,999
17.1% (535,049)
$200,000 or more
21.3% (664,132)
Income Sterling VA USA
Less than $10,000 2.9% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 0.3% 2.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 4.3% 5.5% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 4.9% 5.9% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 5.6% 9.1% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 8.7% 14.6% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.6% 12.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 23.4% 18.2% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 17.1% 10.7% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 21.3% 16.9% 12.6%

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