Sterling is a community in Loudoun County, Virginia, home to about 32,411 people across 5.5 square miles. Its ZIP code is 20164, and parts of 20166 are in Sterling too.
Homes sold for a median of $320 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Sterling; also Sugarland Run
Mostly Ashburn; part is in Sterling
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Sterling. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Sterling’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)6 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Washington, DC22 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA139 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Sterling; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Sterling had 30,337 residents in the 2020 census, up 9% since 2010.
It’s the 35th largest of 669 towns in Virginia by population.
Loudoun County grew from 21,948 residents in 1900 to 420,959 in 2020.
Loudoun County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 87°F in summer, and winter lows average 25°F. About 45.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wfo Sterling, VA weather station (5 miles away).
192,220 jobs at 12,561 businesses in Loudoun County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
162 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Sterling.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 24 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 10 |
| Dentists | 26 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 29 |
| Mental health providers | 37 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 26 |
| Optometrists | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 6 |
| Pharmacies | 11 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (9 nearby)
Grocery stores (10 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries (2 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Notable people born here
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Loudoun County Public Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion HighSterling | Pre-K–12 | 1,453 | Public | 1.7 mi |
| Elaine E. Thompson ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 756 | Public | 8.3 mi |
| Forest Grove ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 529 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| Guilford ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 504 | Public | 1.4 mi |
| Meadowland ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 403 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| Rolling Ridge ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 562 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Sterling ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 430 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Sugarland ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 502 | Public | 1.6 mi |
| Sully ElementarySterling | Pre-K–5 | 476 | Public | 1.6 mi |
| Seneca Ridge MiddleSterling | 6–8 | 862 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Sterling MiddleSterling | 6–8 | 967 | Public | 1.3 mi |
| Park View HighSterling | 9–12 | 1,409 | Public | 0.4 mi |
| W.O. Robey HighSterling | 9–12 | 59 | Public | 1.7 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karter School of CascadesSterling | Pre-K–K | 15 | Nonsectarian | 0.4 mi |
| Montessori Childrens House of LoudounSterling | Pre-K–3 | 26 | Nonsectarian | 1.1 mi |
| The Newton SchoolSterling | K–8 | 78 | Nonsectarian | 0.4 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Sugarland Run, Ashburn, Dulles Town Center, Loudoun Valley Estates, Arcola, Oak Grove and Kincora.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.