Sterling: Demographics & People
Census counts 32,411 people in Sterling, in 9,813 households. Population grew 3.7% from 31,251 (2022) to 32,411 (2024). Median age 35.3 years. (2.9y younger than Loudoun County; 2.5y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 49% Hispanic or Latino and 26% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.64). 74% of households are family-led. County is losing 1,912 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 29% adult obesity, 9% smoke.
- 3.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 26% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 54 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.7% from 31,251 (2022) to 32,411 (2024) — about 6.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~33,624 (extrapolated at 1.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 35,285.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 420,959 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 31,251 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 32,411 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 32,411 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 35,285 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.3y is 3.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 32,411 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 7,710 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 8,314.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 12,769.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 3,618 |
| Population under 18 | 7,710 |
| Median age | 35.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 32,411 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.64 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 12,236 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 2,003 |
| Asian residents | 4,226 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 15,596 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 64.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 45.8% |
| Asian population | 15.1% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 7.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 49.2% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 25.7% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 46% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 10,446 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 6,135 |
| Share born in this state | 32.2% |
| Share born in another state | 67.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 18.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 46.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 13,874 |
| From Europe | 341 |
| From Africa | 3,968 |
| From Latin America | 843 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 26 |
| Census Foreign Born · South America | 41 |
Households & Family Composition
9,813 households. Averaging 3.2 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 74% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 7,308 families, 35% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 7,643 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 7,308 |
| Married couples with children | 2,567 |
| Single-parent households | 261 |
| Average household size | 3.22 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 662 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 481 |
| Family households | 7,297 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 74.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 9,813 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 10.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 1,912 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 459,164 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 461,076 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -1,912 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 917 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.0% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 128 residents live in group quarters (0.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 128 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51107 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 107 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Loudoun |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 4.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 3.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 4.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51107 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Loudoun County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 6,646 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51107 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Loudoun County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 94.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 76.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 48.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 413,538 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 19 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 20 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 32,411, growing, family-oriented, affluent, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 32,411 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Loudoun County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade