Residential comparison · 13 facts
Ashburn, VA vs Sterling, VA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Ashburn needs about $78,000 in Sterling to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Sterling, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $92,000 in Ashburn.
A few differences
- Ashburn is higher on median household income ($154,978 vs $123,303).
- Sterling is lower on cost of living index (117 vs 134).
- Sterling is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,923/mo vs $2,444/mo).
Ashburn vs Sterling · facet by facet
| Facet | Ashburn, VA | Sterling, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $699,300 | $526,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,444/mo | $1,923/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| State & local income tax | 4.36% | 4.36% |
| Sales tax | 5.75% | 5.75% |
| Cost of living index | 134 | 117 |
| Groceries index | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $154,978 | $123,303 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Crime index | 32/100 | 32/100 |
| School rating | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 210 days | 210 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Ashburn, VA · Sterling, VA
Questions & answers
- Is Ashburn cheaper than Sterling?
- Sterling has the lower day-to-day cost index (117 vs 134 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Sterling equals $85,000 in Ashburn?
- A household earning $85,000 in Ashburn needs about $78,000 in Sterling to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Sterling lifestyle costs about $92,000 in Ashburn.