Census-designated place · Virginia
Sterling, Virginia
Sterling, census-designated place, in Loudoun County, Virginia. Sterling had 32,411 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,903). GEOID 5175376.
Residents, 2020-2024
32,411
±1,903 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 30,337
Median household income
$123,303
±$10,297 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$526,000
±$18,797 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$2,138
±$227 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Sterling and what county is it in?
Sterling is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Loudoun County, Virginia. It covers 5.5 square miles of land, 5,562 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sterling is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 23 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sterling, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Sterling's population at 32,411 (±1,903). The 2020 Census counted 30,337 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Sterling is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Sterling | Loudoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 32,411 ±1,903 | 432,998 | no clear change |
| Households | 9,813 ±481 | 143,032 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.29 ±0.14 | 3.02 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 10,102 ±461 | 147,003 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Sterling?
The median resident of Sterling is 35.3 years old; 23.8% are under 18 and 11.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 49.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 25.7%. 46.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sterling | Loudoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 ±1.4 | 38.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.8% ±1.7 pts | 26.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.2% ±1.4 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Male | 52.9% ±2.1 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 49.2% ±3.5 pts | 14.3% | +8.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 25.7% ±2.6 pts | 51.0% | −6.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.2% ±1.6 pts | 7.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 15.1% ±2.7 pts | 21.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 46.5% ±2.7 pts | 27.4% | +5.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 63.5% ±3.3 pts | 34.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±1.3 pts | 7.0% | – |
| With a disability | 7.1% ±1.1 pts | 7.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 18.4% ±3.1 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.0% ±3.4 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.4% ±3.3 pts | 64.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.8% ±1.9 pts | 28.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.2% ±3.0 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Sterling earn?
Half of Sterling's 9,813 households earn less than $123,303 a year (±$10,297), against $181,765 in Loudoun County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $120,174 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sterling | Loudoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $123,303 ±$10,297 | $181,765 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $149,613 ±$12,459 | $214,791 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,481 ±$4,006 | $71,986 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.0% ±2.7 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.5% ±3.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.8% ±2.0 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7% ±1.1 pts | 99.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.2% ±2.1 pts | 97.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Sterling?
Owners occupy 71.8% of Sterling's occupied homes and renters 28.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $526,000 by its owner (±$18,797). The median renter pays $2,138 a month including utilities, and 38.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sterling | Loudoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $526,000 ±$18,797 | $743,800 | +$84,181 |
| Median gross rent | $2,138 ±$227 | $2,386 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.6% ±8.5 pts | 37.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,445 ±$87 | $3,270 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.8% ±4.0 pts | 77.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.2% ±4.0 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Housing units | 10,102 ±461 | 147,003 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 50.2% ±3.6 pts | 51.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9% ±1.5 pts | 23.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.9% ±2.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Sterling work and get to work?
59.9% of Sterling's workers drive alone and 15.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Sterling | Loudoun County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 75.0% ±2.1 pts | 74.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% ±1.2 pts | 3.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 59.9% ±4.1 pts | 57.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 21.7% ±3.6 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.7% ±2.5 pts | 31.2% | +12.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.2 min ±1.4 | 30.1 min | −3.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Sterling?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Sterling (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $95,341 (Tract 6116.02) to $152,083 (Tract 6114).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6113Loudoun County | 7,103 | $133,674 |
| Tract 6114Loudoun County | 6,688 | $152,083 |
| Tract 6116.01Loudoun County | 4,754 | $144,960 |
| Tract 6117.01Loudoun County | 4,493 | $130,820 |
| Tract 6115.02Loudoun County | 7,269 | $131,000 |
| Tract 6116.02Loudoun County | 3,978 | $95,341 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Sterling) · Census block assignment files
How does Sterling compare with other places in Virginia?
Sterling ranks 107th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 35th | 374 |
| Residents per square mile | 29th | 374 |
| Median household income | 107th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 146th | 374 |
| Median home value | 109th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 88th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 159th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 183rd | 359 |
| Median age | 295th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 156th | 368 |
| Work from home | 163rd | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 226th | 372 |
Sterling's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Sterling with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Sterling?
6 of the 57 figures for Sterling on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Sterling are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.