City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Sterling, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sterling - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

31,251
Residents
$125,753
Median income
$508,400
Median home
$2,246
Median rent (state)

Sterling - the verdict

Nationally, Sterling sits in the 89th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

89th
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
87th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sterling, VA

Virginia's Sterling is a small city, with 31,251 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $125,753 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Sterling's housing stock carries a median value of $508,400, and the median resident age is 34.8 years. Educational attainment runs 37.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 71.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 19 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Virginia scores 101.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,246 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Virginia run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 5.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

31,251 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$125,753 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Sterling compare to other US cities?

Where Sterling sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 89% higher than other cities
Home value 85% pricier than other cities
Median rent 87% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sterling's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

89thIncome percentile

89th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sterling's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$508,400 15th percentile more affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sterling $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sterling, VA Sterling, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sterling, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sterling, VA median $125,753/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sterling, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sterling, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 37.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
31,251
Median Income
$125,753
Median Home Value
$508,400
Median Age
34.8
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
71.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
37.3%

Schools

Total Schools
19
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.8%
Carpool
17.1%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
12.9%
Other
1.4%

Based on 17,346 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sterling sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,246/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
5.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Springfield
30,894 people
West Falls Church
30,660 people
Petersburg
33,365 people
Fredericksburg
28,383 people
South Riding
34,200 people
Short Pump
28,177 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterling's 31,251 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Holladay, UT
31,236 people
Bay Shore, NY
31,275 people
Orcutt, CA
31,284 people
New Smyrna Beach, FL
31,212 people
Jackson, MI
31,206 people
Santa Paula, CA
31,202 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterling's $125,753 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Arroyo Hondo CDP (Santa Fe County), NM
$125,750 median income
Ovilla, TX
$125,777 median income
Descanso, CA
$125,714 median income
Grayson, GA
$125,704 median income
Minerva Park, OH
$125,802 median income
Lone Tree, CO
$125,699 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sterling, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sterling, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 39.1% 6.4% 13.5% 20.5% 18.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 49.9% White 39.1% Black or African American 6.4% Asian 13.5% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 20.5% Two or more races 18.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sterling compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sterling (this city) 31,251 $125,753
Springfield 30,894 $123,691
West Falls Church 30,660 $131,236
Petersburg 33,365 $50,741
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sterling, VA?

What is the population of Sterling, VA? +

31,251 people live in Sterling, VA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sterling, VA? +

Median annual household income in Sterling runs $125,753, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sterling? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sterling; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sterling, VA? +

A typical home in Sterling is worth $508,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.