Sterling, Virginia Housing Market Prices
Sterling Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 45% above the Virginia median$372,229
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Median rent 38% above the Virginia median$2,172
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $372,229 | $256,082 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 3.5% | 3.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $2,172 | $1,579 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.9% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Sterling is about 45% higher than in Virginia. Rent is about 38% higher than the Virginia average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Sterling, up about 3.5% and 3.9% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
Median rent in Sterling rose about 36.0% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,597 to $2,172. Over the same span, rent in Virginia rose about 41.5%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.9 yearly household incomes in Sterling.
Buying the median-priced home in Sterling costs roughly 14.3 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Sterling. The price-to-rent ratio in Virginia is about 13.5.
| Metric | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $372,229 | $256,082 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $126,633 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Sterling rose about 21.2%, while median household income rose about 48.1% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 70.5% | 61.5% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 26.7% | 29.8% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 2.8% | 8.7% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 12.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2014 | 2011 | 2011 |
Sterling has a homeownership rate of 70.5%, higher than the Virginia average of 61.5%. Its housing vacancy rate is 2.8%, compared with 8.7% in Virginia.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Sterling | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 3.28 people | 2.52 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1985 | 1982 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Sterling was built around 1985. On average, 3.3 people live in a home with about 6.3 rooms, staying for about 12.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Sterling, Virginia.
What is the median home price in Sterling, Virginia?
The median home price in Sterling, Virginia is $372,229, higher than the Virginia average of $256,082.
What is the average home price in Sterling, Virginia?
The typical home price in Sterling, Virginia, reported as the median sale price, is $372,229. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Sterling, Virginia?
The median gross rent in Sterling, Virginia is $2,172 per month, higher than the Virginia average of $1,579.
What was the median gross rent in Sterling in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Sterling, Virginia was $1,898 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Sterling, Virginia?
The price-to-rent ratio in Sterling, Virginia is about 14.3, meaning it would take roughly 14.3 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Sterling.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Sterling, Virginia?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Sterling, up about 3.5% and 3.9% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Sterling, Virginia?
70.5% of households in Sterling, Virginia own their home, higher than the Virginia average of 61.5%.
What is the vacancy rate in Sterling, Virginia?
The housing vacancy rate in Sterling, Virginia is 2.8%, lower than the Virginia average of 8.7%.
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