Loudoun County, Virginia

Living in Sterling, VA

Among Loudoun County's 16 largest communities, Sterling has the most affordable home values ($526K), the oldest housing (typical home built 1982) and the second-most affordable rents ($2,138). With about 30,300 residents, it's Loudoun County's 4th-largest community. Below: prices, housing and getting around, and how Fred works here.

Get the Sterling market report Plan a tour

Median home value: $526K; Census, 2020–2024
Median rent: $2,138; per month
Own their home: 72%; of households
Nearest Metro: 3.1 mi; Loudoun Gateway

At a glance

Homes, prices & getting around.

The median home in Sterling is valued at $526K, below the Loudoun County median of $744K — the lowest of the 16 Loudoun County communities compared on this site. Median rent is $2,138 a month (county: $2,386).

Housing here is mostly houses — 50% detached and 31% townhouses — with 18% in condo and apartment buildings. Most homes are owner-occupied (72%, against 78% across Loudoun County). The typical home was built in 1982, older than the Loudoun County median of 2002.

Sterling has no Metro station of its own; the closest is Loudoun Gateway (Silver Line), about 3.1 miles away.

Homes by type of building

Detached houses 50%
Townhouses 31%
2–9 unit buildings 6%
10+ unit buildings 12%

Residents: 30,337; 2020 Census
Homes: 9,609; 2020 Census
Typical home built: 1982; median year
Avg. commute: 24 min; one way
Transit commuters: 1%; of workers
Work from home: 16%; of workers
Price-to-rent: 21; Loudoun County: 26

Straight-line distance to major job centers

Dulles Airport: 4 mi
Tysons: 11 mi
Bethesda / NIH: 16 mi
Downtown D.C.: 22 mi
Fort Meade: 36 mi

As the crow flies from the community's Census center point; drive times vary with traffic — Fred can map your real commute.

Questions

Living in Sterling: common questions.

Is Sterling a city? What county is it in?

No — Sterling is an unincorporated community (a Census-designated place) in Loudoun County, Virginia. It has no city government of its own; Loudoun County provides local services, and the mailing-address “Sterling” area can be larger than the Census boundary.

What is the median home value in Sterling?

$526K, based on owners' own estimates in the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey, compared with $744K across Loudoun County. These figures trail today's prices — request a valuation or a current Sterling market report for recent sales.

Do more people rent or own in Sterling?

72% of households own their home and 28% rent (ACS 2020–2024), compared with 78% owners across Loudoun County. Fred can run the rent-versus-buy numbers for a specific Sterling home.

How far is Sterling from downtown D.C.?

Sterling is about 22 miles from downtown D.C. in a straight line. The average one-way commute from here is 24 minutes.

Which schools serve Sterling?

Public schools are assigned by home address. Sterling is served by Loudoun County Public Schools; check the district's boundary tools for any specific address.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sterling?

A rough guide is the price-to-rent ratio — the median home value divided by a year of median rent. Here it's about 21 (Loudoun County: 26); the higher it is, the more renting tends to win on monthly cost. It's only a starting point — taxes, rates and how long you'll stay matter more. Fred runs the real numbers for specific homes.

Are there first-time buyer programs for Sterling?

Yes: Virginia Housing — the state housing agency's first-time buyer loans and down-payment assistance. Eligibility and limits change, so confirm with a participating lender — Fred can introduce one.

Can Fred help me buy or sell in Sterling?

Yes. Fred Mohseni is a Realtor® licensed in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. with The ONE Street Company at Samson Properties. Call (202) 704-5931 or send a note.

How Fred helps

Your Sterling real estate agent.

Whether you're buying, selling, investing or relocating in Sterling, you work directly with Fred — a Realtor® licensed in Maryland, Virginia and D.C., with an accountant's eye for the numbers.

Buying

Tours, offers and negotiation in Sterling, with a patient, jargon-free guide from pre-approval to closing day.

Selling

Pricing from recent Sterling sales, then preparation and marketing for the strongest possible offer.

Investing

Rent-versus-own math, cash-flow analysis and neighborhood selection from an accounting and finance background.

Relocating

New to the area? Fred compares Sterling with nearby towns and runs remote tours before you arrive.

Nearby

Sterling and its neighbors.

The closest places on this site, across county and state lines. Dulles Town Center is about 1.4 miles away, Herndon is about 2.6 miles away, Sugarland Run is about 2.8 miles away.

Community	Population	Median home value	Median rent	Own their home	Typical home	Avg. commute
Sterling	30,337	$526K	$2,138	72%	Mostly houses	24 min
Dulles Town Center	5,909	$606K	$2,393	30%	Condos & apartments	26 min
Herndon	24,655	$599K	$2,259	62%	Mostly houses	28 min
Sugarland Run	12,345	$577K	$2,685	85%	Mostly houses	28 min
Cascades	12,366	$671K	$2,657	72%	Townhouses	28 min
Countryside	10,418	$630K	$2,234	72%	Mostly houses	27 min
McNair	21,598	$596K	$2,287	25%	Condos & apartments	25 min

ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates. * = wide margin of error. “Typical home” is the most common kind of building. On smaller screens some columns are hidden; open on a laptop for population, home type and commute.

Next step

Thinking about Sterling?

Ask Fred for a current Sterling market report — recent sales, what's listed and what it means for your budget. Or call (202) 704-5931.

Request the Sterling market report Compare Loudoun County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; D.C. Office of Planning neighborhood clusters and regional rail stations (D.C. GIS). Home values are owners' own estimates averaged over 2020–2024, so they trail today's prices. This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. Data updated November 2026.