City · 32,411 residents · Loudoun County, Virginia
Sterling, Virginia
In Sterling, a typical home is worth $526,000 and typical rent is $2,138 a month. Compared with all of Loudoun County, typical household income is 32% lower, the typical home value is 29% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $521,830 to $629,456.
Typical rent
$2,560a month
▲ 2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $2,001 to $2,560.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Sterling is in Loudoun County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Loudoun County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical household income in Sterling is $123,303,32% less than in Loudoun County as a whole ($181,765).
2
The typical home in Sterling is worth $526,000,29% less than in Loudoun County as a whole ($743,800).
3
72% of households in Sterling own their home, against 78% in Loudoun County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Sterling
What homes there are in Sterling, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
United States
Kind of home: Sterling and its comparisons
Measure
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
United States
Detached house
50%
51%
61%
61%
Attached house
31%
31%
11%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
4%
2%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
14%
16%
19%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
1%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Loudoun County, most homes in Sterling are detached houses (50%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
United States
Year built: Sterling and its comparisons
Measure
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
United States
Before 1960
Unreliable estimate
4%
19%
26%
1960–1979
42%
9%
24%
24%
1980–1999
48%
31%
30%
25%
2000–2009
5%
30%
15%
14%
2010 or later
4%
27%
12%
11%
The typical home in Sterling was built in 1982, 20 years before the typical one in Loudoun County.
Homes in Sterling are smaller: 75% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Loudoun County, 80%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300K4%
$300K–$500K38%
$500K–$750K50%
$750K–$1M4%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Sterling and its comparisons
Measure
Sterling
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
4%
$300K–$500K
38%
$500K–$750K
50%
$750K–$1M
4%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99932%
$2,000–$2,49919%
$2,500–$2,99926%
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Sterling and its comparisons
Measure
Sterling
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
32%
$2,000–$2,499
19%
$2,500–$2,999
26%
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,445 a month
Loudoun County: $3,270 a month
Without a mortgage
$719 a month
Loudoun County: $955 a month
Owners with a mortgage
75%
Loudoun County: 81%
Owning costs less in Sterling: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,445 a month; in Loudoun County, $3,270. Without one, $719.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Sterling+47%
Loudoun County+46%
Virginia+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Sterling+18%
Loudoun County+28%
Virginia+28%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Sterling+26%
Loudoun County+28%
Virginia+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Sterling and its comparisons
Measure
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
United States
Typical home value
+47%
+46%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
+18%
+28%
+28%
+33%
Typical household income
+26%
+28%
+26%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Sterling rose at about the same pace as in Loudoun County: 47% against 46%.
Rents in Sterling rose more slowly than in Loudoun County: 18% since 2015–2019, against 28%.
While home values in Sterling changed +47% and rent +18%, the typical household income rose 26%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Sterling and its comparisons
Measure
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.9%
4.8%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
6.3%
2.5%
2.1%
3.4%
People per household
3.29
3.02
2.52
2.53
Drive alone
60%
58%
68%
69%
Carpool
22%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
2%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
3%
Work from home
16%
31%
18%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Sterling, 6.3% of households live with more than one person per room, against 2.5% in Loudoun County.
More people live in each home here: 3.29 on average, against 3.02 in Loudoun County.
In Sterling, 22% of workers share a car to get to work; in Loudoun County, 7%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Sterling?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Sterling, worth $526,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 42% of the typical household income in Sterling, which is $123,303 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $185,091 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Loudoun County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Sterling. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $18,410 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$4,319
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$516,473
Total interest
$743,083
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $8,883 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,877 a month
Tight
$2,877 to $3,699 a month
Hard
more than $3,699 a month
Your payment · 42%
Compared with the typical household income in Sterling ($123,303 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,499
Property tax
$368
Home insurance
$219
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$233
You need at least $18,410 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $4,319; principal and interest $3,499.
The city and its county
Sterling and Loudoun County
Sterling is in Loudoun County, Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Sterling
Map of Loudoun County, Virginia, with Sterling marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Sterling
Loudoun County
Other cities with a page
Sterling's own numbers
Typical home value
$526,000
Typical monthly rent
$2,138
Typical yearly household income
$123,303
Households that own their home
72%
Effective property tax rate
0.84%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Loudoun County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,438
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Loudoun County.
A typical home in Sterling is worth $526,000: 29% below the county and 37% above Virginia. With the typical household income in Sterling ($123,303 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Sterling4.3 years
Loudoun4.1 years
Virginia4.1 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Loudoun County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Loudoun County rose 76% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Loudoun County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Loudoun County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +1.8% +1.8% 2016
2017: +3.0% +3.0% 2017
2018: +4.2% +4.2% 2018
2019: +4.3% +4.3% 2019
2020: +3.4% +3.4% 2020
2021: +11.1% +11.1% 2021
2022: +13.6% +13.6% 2022
2023: +6.2% +6.2% 2023
2024: +6.9% +6.9% 2024
2025: +4.3% +4.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Loudoun County, Virginia and the United States
Period
County
Virginia
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.3%
+3.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+49%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+76%
+75%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Sterling next to Loudoun County, Virginia and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Sterling$526,000
Loudoun$743,800
Virginia$383,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Sterling$2,138
Loudoun$2,386
Virginia$1,579
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Sterling$123,303
Loudoun$181,765
Virginia$93,170
United States$80,734
See the full table
Sterling next to Loudoun County and Virginia
Measure
Sterling
Loudoun County
Virginia
U.S.
Typical home value
$526,000 ▼29% below the county
$743,800
$383,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,138 ▼10% below the county
$2,386
$1,579
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$123,303 ▼32% below the county
$181,765
$93,170
$80,734
Households that own their home
72% ▼6 points below the county
78%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,412 ▼30% below the county
$6,325
$2,790
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.84% ▼0.01 points below the county
0.85%
0.73%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
47% ▲3 points above the county
44%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Loudoun County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sterling
For a typical $526,000 home in Sterling, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sterling's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$4,319a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$18,410
Cash to close
$34,190
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $233
Conventional, 5% down$4,222a month
Down payment
$26,300
Cash to close
$42,080
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $250
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$3,438a month
Down payment
$105,200
Cash to close
$120,980
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$3,924a month
Down payment
$78,900
Cash to close
$94,680
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sterling
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$4,319
$18,410
$516,473
7.18%
FHA MIP · $233
$34,190
580
Conventional, 5% down
$4,222
$26,300
$499,700
7.18%
PMI · $250
$42,080
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$3,438
$105,200
$420,800
7.18%
None
$120,980
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$3,924
$78,900
$447,100
8.18%
None
$94,680
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Sterling is $2,138 a month: 10% below the county. In Sterling, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Loudoun County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,438 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $46.88 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Loudoun County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$2,111
$40.60
$84,440
1 bedroom
$2,204
$42.38
$88,160
2 bedrooms
$2,438
$46.88
$97,520
3 bedrooms
$3,107
$59.75
$124,280
4 bedrooms
$3,658
$70.35
$146,320
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Sterling
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Sterling is in ZIP code 20164.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,650: $212 more than the fair market rent for Loudoun County ($2,438).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Sterling, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
20164
$2,300
$2,400
$2,650
$3,380
$3,980
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
20164 $2,650$3,380
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Sterling when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Sterling. These are the largest.
Fields at Cascades21260 Huntington Sq, Sterling 20166320 low-income homes · 2 bd: 240 · 3 bd: 80 · In service since 1999 · For families
Cascades Village46565 Harry Byrd Hwy, Sterling 20164150 low-income homes · 1 bd: 123 · 2 bd: 27 · In service since 2002 · For older adults
Fields of Sterling46910 Shady Point Sq, Sterling 20164102 low-income homes · 2 bd: 80 · 3 bd: 22 · In service since 2004 · For families
Heronview21391 Pacific Boulevard, Sterling 2016696 low-income homes · 1 bd: 18 · 2 bd: 58 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2018 · For families
William Watters House22365 Enterprise St, Sterling 2016491 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 67 · In service since 2007 · For older adults(703) 406-0611
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Loudoun County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Sterling or Loudoun County. The ones below are statewide in Virginia: they work in Sterling the same as in the rest of the state.
Virginia state agency down payment grant that you do not repay; for first-time buyers, or any buyer in economic opportunity zones, with a Virginia Housing mortgage.Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).
Virginia Housing 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage of up to 5% of the price for the down payment (and part of the closing costs with a credit score of 680 or higher); for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before.Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).
Virginia Housing grant that you do not repay, of up to 2% of the price, for the closing costs of buyers with a Virginia Housing RD (Rural Development) or VA loan.Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).
No legal help resource on our list is for Sterling or Loudoun County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Sterling and all of Loudoun County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Sterling?
The typical home value in Sterling is $526,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Loudoun County it is $743,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Sterling?
Typical rent in Sterling is $2,138 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Loudoun County is $2,438.
What is the FHA loan limit in Sterling?
Sterling uses the FHA limit for all of Loudoun County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Sterling?
The typical homeowner in Sterling pays $4,412 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.84% of the home’s value; in Loudoun County, the rate is 0.85%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Sterling?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Loudoun County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
