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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Sterling

Virginia · 20,512 residents · 5.454 sq mi
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The short version

Sterling is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $55,593. Population has fallen 26% since 2010, a loss of 7,310 residents. 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $156,300. Poverty is rare here, at 1.1% of residents. Households here earn about 67% more than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 29.9
US median: 33.0
More educated
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,512
−26%vs 2010
vs 27,822 in 2010
1990 – 2024
Median age
29.9
−11%vs 2010
vs 33.6 in 2010
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K23K26K30K34K199020202024Sterling
202432K
199020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 58.5%(1,736)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.8%(1,602)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(1,461)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.3%(1,499)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247.6%(1,561)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3422.9%(4,704)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4418.1%(3,715)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.8%(2,412)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 645.7%(1,160)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 741.9%(392)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 841.1%(234)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.2%(36)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,593
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2010
vs $82,997 in 2010
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,508
−41%vs 2010
vs $34,899 in 2010
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
1.1%
−3.8 ptsvs 2010
vs 5.0% in 2010
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,300
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2010
vs $349,900 in 2010
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$922
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2010
vs $1,475 in 2010
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
78.1%
+11.3 ptsvs 2010
vs 66.9% in 2010
21.9% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2010
White, non-Hispanic41.8%(11,631)
Black7.7%(2,149)
Hispanic / Latino33.2%(9,230)
Asian14%(3,897)
Other1.4%(376)
1990
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(18,078)
Black5.7%(1,163)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(704)
Asian4.7%(956)
Other1.5%(315)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Central American35.3%(11,438)
Salvadoran28.5%(9,234)
South American6.8%(2,207)
Honduran4%(1,309)
Bolivian2.6%(840)
Peruvian2.5%(795)
Guatemalan2.4%(794)
Mexican1.8%(586)
Ecuadorian1%(340)
Puerto Rican0.8%(261)
Colombian0.4%(135)
Cuban0.3%(105)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Spaniard0.2%(78)
Nicaraguan0.2%(63)
Venezuelan0.2%(54)
Argentine0.1%(30)
Dominican0.1%(21)
Chilean0%(13)
Asian origin
Pakistani4.2%(1,348)
Vietnamese3.3%(1,082)
Asian Indian2.5%(797)
Filipino1.4%(464)
Thai0.6%(197)
Chinese0.4%(128)
Laotian0.3%(107)
Mongolian0.3%(96)
Japanese0.2%(78)
Korean0.1%(47)
Taiwanese0.1%(38)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Burmese0.1%(38)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English5.3%(1,725)
German5.1%(1,642)
Irish5%(1,614)
American2.5%(814)
Arab2.2%(725)
Lebanese1.8%(587)
Italian1.8%(586)
Polish1.1%(349)
French1%(337)
Scottish1%(327)
Norwegian0.4%(141)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Iranian0.4%(124)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(121)
Dutch0.4%(114)
Ukrainian0.3%(104)
Egyptian0.3%(99)
Swedish0.3%(82)
West Indian0.3%(82)
Bulgarian0.2%(77)
Greek0.2%(75)
British0.2%(71)
Welsh0.2%(67)
Croatian0.2%(64)
Belgian0.2%(54)
Australian0.2%(53)
Ethiopian0.1%(47)
Nigerian0.1%(46)
Danish0.1%(39)
Hungarian0.1%(33)
Swiss0.1%(33)
Jamaican0.1%(31)
Czech0.1%(24)
Lithuanian0.1%(21)
Russian0%(16)
Ghanaian0%(14)
Slovak0%(13)
Finnish0%(11)
Slovene0%(11)
Canadian0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Central American population · Largest Salvadoran population · Largest South American population · Largest English population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.7%
−4.9 ptsvs 2010
vs 35.6% in 2010
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
90.7%
+8.0 ptsvs 2010
vs 82.7% in 2010
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
7.7%
−1.8 ptsvs 2010
vs 9.5% in 2010
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.2 min
−5%vs 2010
vs 28.7 min in 2010
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married39.3%(5,243)
Married50.1%(6,696)
Widowed2.5%(336)
Divorced8.1%(1,080)
Women 15+
Never married37.9%(4,779)
Married47.2%(5,957)
Widowed4.7%(599)
Divorced10.2%(1,288)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, Virginia?

Sterling, Virginia has about 20,512 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Sterling, Virginia?

The typical household in Sterling, Virginia earns about $55,593 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, Virginia expensive?

In Sterling, Virginia, the median home is worth about $156,300, and the typical rent is about $922 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, Virginia?

About 30.7% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, Virginia?

About 1.1% of people in Sterling, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →