What are the schools like in Sterling, VA?

Sterling is served primarily by Loudoun County Public Schools. The district operates 62 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 13 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Sterling?

The median household income in Sterling, VA is $117,699 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Sterling, VA?

Sterling has an average high temperature of 41.9°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.0 inches.

Sterling, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sterling, VA affordable or expensive?

Sterling's cost of living index is 109, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sterling is 9% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $458,400 and the median rent is $2,016 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sterling, VA?

Sterling has a violent crime rate of 102.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 775.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sterling, VA a Good Place to Live?

Sterling is a small city of 31,058 in Virginia, with a median household income of $117,699 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Sterling stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Sterling is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sterling city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.6

Sterling's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sterling costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric	Sterling, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$458,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,016	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$117,699	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sterling's violent crime rate is 102.5 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

102.5 /100k

Property Crime

775.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sterling is served primarily by Loudoun County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sterling, VA	National Avg
School District	Loudoun County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	62	—
Middle Schools	18	—
High Schools	13	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sterling sees average highs of 41.9°F in January and 87.2°F in July, with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation and 21.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sterling, VA
Average High — January	41.9°F
Average High — July	87.2°F
Annual Precipitation	45.1"
Annual Snowfall	21.0"

Demographics

Metric	Sterling, VA	National Avg
Population	31,058	—
Median Age	35.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	42.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	33.4%	18.9%
Asian	15.2%	6.3%
Under 18	24.1%	22.2%
65 and over	10.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dulles Town Center, VA 1 mi Oak Grove, VA 2 mi Dranesville, VA 2 mi Herndon, VA 3 mi Sugarland Run, VA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Sterling

Sterling, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

20164

Sterling vs Other Cities

Sterling, VA vs Dulles Town Center, VA Sterling, VA vs Oak Grove, VA Sterling, VA vs Dranesville, VA Sterling, VA vs Herndon, VA Sterling, VA vs Sugarland Run, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sterling, VA affordable or expensive?

Sterling's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Sterling roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $458,400 and median rent is $2,016/month.

What is the crime rate in Sterling, VA?

Sterling's violent crime rate is 102.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 775.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sterling?

Public schools in Sterling are operated by Loudoun County Public Schools. The district has 62 elementary, 18 middle, and 13 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 37.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sterling, VA a good place to live?

Sterling, VA has a population of 31,058, a median household income of $117,699, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sterling?

Sterling averages 41.9°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches with about 21.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sterling?

Sterling, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 20164.

What is the population of Sterling?

The population of Sterling, Virginia is 31,058 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sterling?

Key numbers for living in Sterling: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $458,400, median household income $117,699, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sterling side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.