The typical owner-occupied home in Sterling is worth about $526,000, 37% above the Virginia median of $383,700 and 58% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,412 a year in property taxes, about 0.84% of their home's value, higher than the Virginia rate of 0.73%. The median household earns $123,303 a year, so the median home costs 4.3 times the median income (4.1 times for Virginia). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 75% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Sterling at a glance
| Sterling | Virginia | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $526,000 | $383,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,412 | $2,790 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.84% | 0.73% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $123,303 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 72% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 75% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,445 | $2,127 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.6% | 20.1% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,138 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.6% | 29.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 2.9% | 8.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 32,411 | 8,705,170 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Sterling
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Sterling home of $526,000 with 20% down costs about $3,418 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,294, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $146,491 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 33% of the median Sterling household income of $123,303; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $443,000.
The median rent here is $2,138 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,280 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $105,200 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $420,800 |
| Principal and interest | $2,831 |
| Property taxes (0.84% a year) | $368 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $219 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,418 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $18,410 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $516,473 |
| Principal and interest | $3,474 |
| Property taxes (0.84% a year) | $368 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $219 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $233 |
| Total per month | $4,294 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Sterling
What is the median home value in Sterling?
About $526,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Sterling?
Homeowners pay a median $4,412 a year, which is about 0.84% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Sterling?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,418 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $146,491 a year.
More about Sterling
- Mortgage Refinance in Sterling
- Debt Relief in Sterling
- Home Equity Loans in Sterling
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data