Sterling, PA housing market
Builders were permitted 7 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Sterling compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
7 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 7 new homes in Sterling in 2025, all single-family houses, worth about $1.1 million to build. That's 5 per 1,000 residents, faster than across Pennsylvania (2). Over the past 10 years, Sterling has permitted 47 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Sterling gained 32 residents while 35 new homes were permitted: about 0.9 new residents per new home. Building outpaced population growth, which usually means smaller households or homes used part of the year. 17% of Sterling's homes are seasonal or vacation homes, which adds housing without adding residents. Across Pennsylvania: 1.4 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 4 | 4 | 0 | $672,000 |
| 2025 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $768,000 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $802,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $900,000 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $880,000 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $966,000 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $125,000 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $748,000 |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $787,000 |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $355,000 |
| 2012 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $368,000 |
| 2011 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $519,000 |
| 2010 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $900,000 |
| 2009 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $392,000 |
| 2008 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $912,000 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $2 million |
| 2006 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2005 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2004 | 15 | 15 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| 2003 | 12 | 12 | 0 | $600,000 |
| 2002 | 13 | 13 | 0 | $750,000 |
| 2001 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $600,000 |
| 2000 | 10 | 10 | 0 | $1.2 million |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Sterling and its neighbors
| Town | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | — | $1,360 | 7 | $70,417 |
| Salem | +3.6%† | $1,320 | 20 | $61,659 |
| Greene | — | $1,500 | 0 | $64,219 |
| Dreher | — | $1,530 | 0 | $51,648 |
| Lehigh | — | $1,400 | 7 | $55,536 |
| Madison | +6.6%† | $1,250 | 5 | $79,769 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
3.3 years of income
The typical Sterling home costs about 3.3 years of the town's median household income, less than across Pennsylvania (3.7 years).
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,360
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Sterling is $1,360 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Sterling pay a median of $869, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 23% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,000 · 4 bedrooms $2,120
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (18424, 18436, 18444, 18445, 18463; Pike County, PA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.