Sterling, VA · standard
ZIP Code 20165
Loudoun County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 32,383
- 1,273/sq mi High-density area
- $183,076
- Median income Above-median income area
- $704,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 67.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Sterling pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 2%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 6%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,273
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20165 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 20165 (Sterling, VA) rose +19.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 229.9 in 2023 to 274.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 20165 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Sterling, Loudoun County, Virginia, with 32,383 residents across 25.4 square miles, a density of 1,273 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 20165 skews affluent, with a median household income of $183,076 (114% above the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $74,859. The poverty rate is 3.1%, with unemployment at 4.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $704,800 (111% above the average Virginia ZIP), while 77.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,531.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 67.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.4, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Loudoun County, so 20165 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 20165
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sterling, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20165.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
237 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
126 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 59
Accommodation and food services
59 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 54
Other services (except public administration)
54 establishments
- Construction 45
Construction
45 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 20165, Sterling, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
32,383
Population
25.4
Area (sq mi)
1,273
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 20165?
38.4
Median Age
51.0%
Male
49.0%
Female
25.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$183,076
Median Household Income
+114% vs state ZIP avg
$74,859
Per Capita Income
3.1%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment Rate
28.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 20165 ranks nationally
Sterling, VA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$183,076 Top 2% higher than 98% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,312housing units
12,312
Total Housing Units
11,939
Occupied Units
373
Vacant Units
2.85
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$704,800
Median Home Value
+111% vs state ZIP avg
$2,531
Median Rent
1994
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+19.6%
YoY Change (2024)
275
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+175%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 20165 have increased 19.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +175% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.1% | 206 |
| 2021 | +10.9% | 228 |
| 2022 | +10.1% | 251 |
| 2023 | -8.5% | 230 |
| 2024 | +19.6% | 275 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 740 business establishments in ZIP 20165, employing approximately 6,263 people with a combined annual payroll of $332,397,000.
740
Businesses
6,263
Employees
$332.4M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 237 | 32.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 126 | 17.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 59 | 8.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 54 | 7.3% |
| Construction | 45 | 6.1% |
| Retail trade | 45 | 6.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 36 | 4.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 35 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 31 | 4.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 2.6% |
| Educational services | 17 | 2.3% |
| Information | 15 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 1.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 20165 vs 20164 →
ZIP 20165 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20147
Ashburn (20147)
54,086 residents
- 20171
Herndon (20171)
45,887 residents
- 20170
Herndon (20170)
41,236 residents
- 20164
Sterling (20164)
37,747 residents
- 20165
Sterling (20165)
32,383 residents
- 20191
Reston (20191)
29,128 residents
- 22066 18,099
Great Falls (22066)
18,099 residents
- 20190 17,529
Reston (20190)
17,529 residents
- 20194 13,165
Reston (20194)
13,165 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20165 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 20165 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 22066
Great Falls (22066)
$250,000 median income
- 20165
Sterling (20165)
$183,076 median income
- 20837
Poolesville (20837)
$174,063 median income
- 20171
Herndon (20171)
$171,372 median income
- 20194
Reston (20194)
$170,988 median income
- 20147
Ashburn (20147)
$163,904 median income
- 20170
Herndon (20170)
$159,466 median income
- 20191
Reston (20191)
$151,185 median income
- 20164
Sterling (20164)
$135,660 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 20165 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20164 | Sterling, VA | 37,747 | 2.6 mi |
| 20170 | Herndon, VA | 41,236 | 4.8 mi |
| 20837 | Poolesville, MD | 5,789 | 4.4 mi |
| 20147 | Ashburn, VA | 54,086 | 4.9 mi |
| 20194 | Reston, VA | 13,165 | 5.4 mi |
| 22066 | Great Falls, VA | 18,099 | 5.5 mi |
| 20166 | Sterling, VA | 9,521 | 5.7 mi |
| 20171 | Herndon, VA | 45,887 | 8.8 mi |
| 20190 | Reston, VA | 17,529 | 6.9 mi |
| 20191 | Reston, VA | 29,128 | 8.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 20165, both outside VA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (32,383 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Loudoun County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 20165 in?
ZIP code 20165 (Sterling) is located in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/loudoun-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 20165?
ZIP code 20165 in Sterling, VA has a population of 32,383 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20165?
The median household income in ZIP 20165 is $183,076, which is 140% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20165?
The median home value in ZIP 20165 is $704,800, which is 153% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20165?
The largest racial group in ZIP 20165 is White at 61.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20165?
ZIP code 20165 has 740 business establishments employing approximately 6,263 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20165?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20165 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (237), Health care and social assistance (126), Accommodation and food services (59). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20165?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20165 increased by 19.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 175%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 20165?
In ZIP code 20165, 79.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 67.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 20165?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20165 is 28.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 20165?
In ZIP code 20165, approximately 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20165?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20165 is 3.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 20165's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 20165 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Sterling, VA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.