Sterling, Virginia
Among the top 9% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 15% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 4% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 54% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 91% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 70% of US places
- top 1% for airport distance
- top 2% for natural disaster risk
- bottom 3% for cost of living
Sterling is a mid-size city in Virginia with about 31,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include airport distance, natural disaster risk, and sales tax. It rates lower on monthly rent and cost of living.
Climate
Hot summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
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warm
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57%45%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.1 in3.1 in
muggy 71%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$118k91st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$76kbetter than 3% of US places
Home Value$458k89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 6% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 12% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.94%better than 53% of US places
Income Tax5.80%better than 36% of US places
Sales Tax5.77%better than 90% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.38%better than 33% of US places
Unemployment5.0%better than 39% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)35°F59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation45.1 in60th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall21.0 inbetter than 45% of US places
Sunny Days181 daysbetter than 10% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 39% of US places
Comfortable Days76 daysbetter than 34% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk14.5better than 98% of US places
Air Quality45 AQIbetter than 56% of US places
School Quality79.1better than 75% of US places
Violent Crime1310/100kbetter than 23% of US places
Property Crime2664/100kbetter than 10% of US places
Community
Population31,05895th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age35.424th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.7399th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0464th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+396th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)28.4%10th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)6.5%79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)47.1%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)15.2%97th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.8%49th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 50% of US places
Walkability9.0/20better than 81% of US places
Airport Distance5 mibetter than 99% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access94.5%better than 81% of US places
Amenities Nearby153.58better than 64% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 38% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sterling an affordable place to live?
- Sterling is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $76k, better than 3% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Sterling?
- The median home value in Sterling is $458k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Sterling?
- Median household income in Sterling is $118k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Sterling?
- Median gross rent in Sterling is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Sterling safe?
- Sterling is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1310/100k (better than 23%). Property crime is 2664/100k.
- What is the weather like in Sterling?
- Sterling averages 78°F in July and 35°F in January, with 45.1 in of annual precipitation and about 181 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Sterling?
- Public-school quality in Sterling is above average, scoring better than 75% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Sterling?
- The average one-way commute in Sterling is 26 min.
Other places in Fairfax
Places near Sterling
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)