States › Virginia › Sterling

Is Sterling, VA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,52244% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$132,982about $11,082/month · 53% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$526,00058% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.0 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $100,880 a year. That is $49 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Virginia. It is number 143 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Sterling
$2,522
Petersburg
$1,330
West Falls Church
$1,917
Springfield
$2,540
South Riding
$3,435
Fair Oaks
$2,394
Short Pump
$1,904

How much do households earn in Sterling?

Under $25k
7.5%
$25k–50k
11.1%
$50k–100k
29.3%
$100k–150k
26.7%
$150k+
23.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 49.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Sterling

SizeSterlingU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,757$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,023$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,605$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,888$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Sterling overall?

Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
107
Goods (food, clothes…)
100
Utilities
92
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Sterling, so the Virginia figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Sterling

🏛️ Property tax$4,412a year · 0.84% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$169a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Sterling

Commute to work24.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home71.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sterling?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,128 a month less.

Renting
$2,522
Owning
$3,650

Owning assumes a typical $526,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $52,600 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Sterling, VA?

Renting in Sterling costs a median of about $2,522 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.

How much do I need to make to live in Sterling?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $100,880 a year, or $49 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Sterling cheap or expensive?

Sterling is rated OK: rent takes 22.8% of the typical household income of $132,982. It ranks 143rd cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Sterling?

The median homeowner in Sterling pays $4,412 a year in property taxes, about 0.84% of the median home value.

Is Sterling more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Virginia are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Sterling?

The median home value in Sterling is $526,000, about 4.0 times the typical yearly household income.

32,411 people live in Sterling. Numbers are typical (middle) values.