Rents are 9% above what Sterling's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,689 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Sterling, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 35.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sterling, VA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Sterling, VA has shifted from $1,823 to $2,689, up 47.5% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $110,915 in 2021 to $123,303 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Sterling, VA adding about 1,209 residents over the five-year window, up 3.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 26% to 28.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 38.4% to 35.4% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Sterling, VA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Sterling on your salary?
At $2,689/mo, how Sterling rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sterling rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sterling. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sterling
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Sterling is $2,689/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,257/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,593/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,307/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,243/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($123,303/yr), Sterling ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 14.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Sterling residents rent vs. own?
How does Sterling rent compare to the national average?
At $2,689/mo, rent takes ~26% of Sterling's median household income ($123,303/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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