Signals
Sterling
Dale City
Climate
74 · Top 31%
vs76 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
90 · Top 11%
vs71 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 48%
vs86 · Top 40%
Schools
31 · Bottom 24%
vs42 · Bottom 38%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs90 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
77 · Top 12%
vs77 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Sterling | Dale City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,411 | 71,016 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $123,303 | $111,994 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,481 | $42,331 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,943/sq mi | 4,990/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $526,000 | $425,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,138 | $1,876 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 79.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 33.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 7.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 41.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 40.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.3 | 35.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.04 | 15.15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.2% | 46.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 49.4% | 64.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 80.4% | 65.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: Sterling, VA · Dale City, VA · How this is calculated: methodology