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Sterling, VA

Census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia. ZIP codes: 20164.

Population

32,411

Land area

5.5sq mi

People per sq mi

5,943

ZIP codes

1

Sterling and its ZIP codes

Full map

Sterling at a glance

  • Sterling is about 27 times as dense as Virginia as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 35th among 681 cities and towns in Virginia.
  • The median household income is $123,303, 32% above the Virginia median of $93,170.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $526,000 (37% above Virginia) and median rent is $2,138 a month.

Local data for Sterling, VA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Sterling, VA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$123,303

Poverty rate

8.0%

Median home value

$526,000

Median rent

$2,138/mo

Homeownership

71.8%

Bachelor's or higher

35.4%

Median age

35.3

Average commute

24.2 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Salvadoran Americans (9,234), German Americans (1,642), Irish Americans (1,614).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Loudoun County. PPP loans are for Sterling.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$87,064

204,941 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$106,510

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$5.61B

FY 2026, $13,326 per person

PPP loans

$72.04M

1,021 loans, 7,550 jobs reported

Loudoun County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Sterling, VA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone59.9%
  • Carpooled21.7%
  • Public transit1.0%
  • Walked0.7%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
  • Worked from home15.7%

Average one-way commute: 24.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Sterling, VA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: heat wave

Storm events since 1996

1,320

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

544

0.9% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

87° / 25°F

45.1 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Sterling, VA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

32.4%

U.S. 33.3% -0.9 pts

Diabetes

11.4%

U.S. 12.1% -0.7 pts

Smoking

11.3%

U.S. 12.8% -1.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

15.6%

U.S. 11.1% +4.5 pts

ZIP codes in Sterling

1 in or overlapping Sterling. Population shown

·

Cities near Sterling

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
Oak GroveCensus-designated place1.3 mi1.2
Dulles Town CenterCensus-designated place1.6 mi2.4
DranesvilleCensus-designated place2.3 mi3.8
Sugarland RunCensus-designated place2.4 mi2
HerndonTown2.5 mi4.3
HutchisonCensus-designated place2.6 mi0.5
KincoraCensus-designated place2.7 mi0.5
CascadesCensus-designated place2.9 mi3.7
CountrysideCensus-designated place3.2 mi2.6
McNairCensus-designated place3.6 mi2
Lowes IslandCensus-designated place3.8 mi3
AshburnCensus-designated place4 mi15.3
One LoudounCensus-designated place4.1 mi0.6
University CenterCensus-designated place4.4 mi0.9
MoorefieldCensus-designated place4.6 mi1.1
Great Falls CrossingCensus-designated place4.6 mi0.6

Frequently asked questions

What county is Sterling, VA in?
Sterling is in Loudoun County, Virginia.
What ZIP codes are in Sterling, VA?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Sterling include 20164.
What is the population of Sterling, VA?
About 32,411 people live in Sterling, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Sterling?
Nearby places include Oak Grove (1.3 mi), Dulles Town Center (1.6 mi), Dranesville (2.3 mi), Sugarland Run (2.4 mi), Herndon (2.5 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023