Ideal CityOpen the map

Franklin Farm vs Sterling

Franklin Farm, Virginia versus Sterling, Virginia: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Franklin Farm

Mixed · objective livability45/100

Sterling

Mixed · objective livability46/100

Franklin Farm and Sterling score about the same overall (45 vs 46 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorFranklin FarmSterling
Affordability
Median Household Income$209k$118k
Cost of Living$76k$76k
Home Value$768k$458k
Monthly Rent$3k$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$6k$7k
Property Tax Rate1.03%0.94%
Income Tax5.80%5.80%
Sales Tax5.77%5.77%
Estimated total tax burden11.47%11.38%
Unemployment2.5%5.0%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)35°F35°F
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F78°F
Annual Precipitation46.1 in45.1 in
Annual Snowfall21.0 in21.0 in
Sunny Days181 days181 days
Summer Humidity65°F65°F
Comfortable Days76 days76 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk31.914.5
Air Quality49 AQI45 AQI
School Quality74.179.1
Violent Crime1310/100k1310/100k
Property Crime2664/100k2664/100k
Community
Population18,90331,058
Median Age42.335.4
Racial Diversity0.500.73
Male/Female Ratio1.071.04
Political LeaningD+39D+39
White (%)63.8%28.4%
Black (%)2.6%6.5%
Hispanic (%)6.4%47.1%
Asian (%)22.2%15.2%
Other / Multiracial (%)5.1%2.8%
Getting Around
Commute Time29 min26 min
Walkability12.4/209.0/20
Airport Distance4 mi5 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access97.9%94.5%
Amenities Nearby303.13153.58
Park & Nature AccessModerateModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Franklin Farm or Sterling more affordable?
Sterling has the lower cost of living: its index is $76k, compared with Franklin Farm's $76k and Sterling's $76k. Median rent is $3k in Franklin Farm versus $2k in Sterling.
Is Franklin Farm or Sterling safer?
Sterling has the lower violent crime rate. Franklin Farm reports 1310/100k and Sterling reports 1310/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Franklin Farm or Sterling?
The median home value is $768k in Franklin Farm and $458k in Sterling, so homes are more affordable in Sterling.
See each on the map

Explore Franklin FarmExplore Sterling

Full profiles