United States › Virginia › Sterling CITY · 2010 ACS
Sterling Virginia · 27,822 residents · 5.45 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 27,822 people, Sterling is a city in Virginia. The foreign-born share is 35%. Median rent is $1,475 a month. Growth has run 36% since 1990, or 7,310 more people. That is roughly 35% ahead of the Virginia median. Median household income runs $82,997, well clear of the $52,703 US median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 33.6
US median: 37.2
More educated
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 29.9 in 1990
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 23K 26K 30K 34K 1990 2010 2020 2024 Sterling Age distribution, 2010
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $82,997
−11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $55,593 in 1990
US average: $52,703
from $20,508 in 1990
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
US average: 33.3%
from 1.1% in 1990
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Professional, scientific, technical 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 4.9%
Public administration 4.5%
Transportation & warehousing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$349,900
+34%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $156,300 in 1990
US average: $225,659
$1,475
−4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $922 in 1990
US average: $853
from 78.1% in 1990
25.6% rent
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 88.1%(18,078)
Hispanic / Latino 3.4%(704)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 41.8%(11,631)
Hispanic / Latino 33.2%(9,230)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data from 30.7% in 1990
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 90.7% in 1990
US average: 84.9%
from 7.7% in 1990
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 27.2 min in 1990
US average: 25.2
Section 07
Work & employment Section 08
People & community Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 39.3%(5,243)
Women 15+
Never married 37.9%(4,779)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 20.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 12.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 10.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 23.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 33.2%(391)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.8%(292)
Share of the 1,177 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Sterling Head to head
Compare Sterling to nearby cities STERLING VS
Dranesville
Income $214,688 +159%
Home value $744,500 +113%
Population 11,828 −64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Herndon
Income $148,000 +78%
Home value $599,100 +71%
Population 25,506 −21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Sugarland Run
Income $166,385 +100%
Home value $576,700 +65%
Population 12,629 −61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STERLING VS
Cascades
Income $167,171 +101%
Home value $671,100 +92%
Population 12,357 −62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Sterling, Virginia? Sterling, Virginia has about 27,822 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Sterling, Virginia? The typical household in Sterling, Virginia earns about $82,997 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 $349,900, and the typical rent is about $1,475 a month.
How educated are people in Sterling, Virginia? About 35.6% 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 5.0% of people in Sterling, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Sterling, Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Sterling, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,310 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 