Health Profile of Sterling, Virginia
Sterling Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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B
Sterling Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.8 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 18.3% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 12.5% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Sterling is 81.8 years, about 4.6 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3 years. The uninsured rate is 18.3%, higher than the Virginia average of 6.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 12.5% of residents, lower than the Virginia average of 16.9%.
Population by Age
Older residents
7,451 residents in Sterling are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 218 63 men · 155 women
- 75–84 612 282 men · 330 women
- 65–74 1,729 928 men · 801 women
- 50–64 4,892 2,284 men · 2,608 women
Younger residents
7,051 residents in Sterling are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 2,032 1,046 boys · 986 girls
- 7–12 1,889 918 boys · 970 girls
- 3–7 1,702 887 boys · 815 girls
- 0–3 1,429 807 boys · 621 girls
About 384 residents in Sterling (1.2% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 81.8 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 8.4% | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 4.1% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 3.7% | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 31.7% | 36.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Sterling is about 45% lower than in Virginia. The rate of cancer in Sterling is about 40% lower than in Virginia. The rate of diabetes in Sterling is about 31% lower than in Virginia.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 14.4% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 15.9% | 15.2% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 20.9% | 24.8% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Sterling is about 24% lower than in Virginia. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Sterling is about 16% lower than in Virginia.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 34,044 cigarettes a day, 1.0 million a month, or 12.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 374,489 minutes a day and 136.7 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Sterling is 81.8 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 3.18 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.73 | 6.12 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.7 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Sterling is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Sterling, VA Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Sterling, VA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling, VA | 31,188 | 81.8 yrs #2/2 | 18.3% #2/2 | 31.7% #2/2 |
| Herndon, VA | 24,312 | 83.3 yrs | 16.8% | 24.4% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Sterling, Virginia has an overall health index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Virginia, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Sterling, Virginia.
What is the health grade for Sterling, Virginia?
Sterling, Virginia has a Map AI Health Index grade of B, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a B grade means residents are somewhat healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in Sterling, Virginia?
People in Sterling, Virginia can expect to live 81.8 years on average, 4.6 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3.
What is the uninsured rate in Sterling, Virginia?
18.3% of residents in Sterling, Virginia have no health insurance, about 1 in 5 people, 11.4 points above the Virginia rate of 6.9%.
What percentage of Sterling, Virginia residents are obese?
31.7% of adults in Sterling, Virginia are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 4.7 points below the Virginia rate of 36.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Sterling, Virginia go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 34,044 cigarettes a day, 1.0 million a month, or 12.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 374,489 minutes a day and 136.7 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Sterling is 81.8 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 3.18 lifetimes a year.
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