Sterling, Alaska

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Population in 2010: 5,617.
Population change since 2000: +19.4%
Males: 3,015  (53.7%)
Females: 2,602  (46.3%)
Median resident age:

46.3 years
Alaska median age:

35.6 years

Zip codes: 99672.

Estimated median household income in 2021: $96,079 (it was $47,700 in 2000)
Sterling:

$96,079
AK:

$77,845

Estimated per capita income in 2021: $60,119 (it was $20,741 in 2000)

Sterling CDP income, earnings, and wages data

Estimated median house or condo value in 2021: $318,808 (it was $119,800 in 2000)
Sterling:

$318,808
AK:

$304,900

Mean prices in 2021: all housing units: $358,753; detached houses: $364,206; mobile homes: $101,425

Median gross rent in 2021: $1,084.

March 2022 cost of living index in Sterling: 106.8 (more than average, U.S. average is 100)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2021: 8.9%
(9.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 31.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 1.4% for American Indian residents, 10.6% for two or more races residents)

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  • Races in Sterling, AK (2021)
    • 5,25487.7%White alone
    • 4126.9%Two or more races
    • 1442.4%American Indian alone
    • 811.4%Hispanic
    • 520.9%Asian alone
    • 140.2%Other race alone

Races in Sterling detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth



According to our research of Alaska and other state lists, there were 11 registered sex offenders living in Sterling, Alaska as of March 18, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Sterling is 518 to 1.
The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average.


Recent articles from our blog. Our writers, many of them Ph.D. graduates or candidates, create easy-to-read articles on a wide variety of topics.
Sterling, AK forum
Recent posts about Sterling, Alaska on our local forum with over 2,400,000 registered users. Sterling is mentioned 851 times on our forum:
Air BNB in Mat-Su Valley or Kenai Peninsula?  (4 replies)
Young Family: Orange County, CA to AK  (105 replies)
Sterling versus Nikiski  (18 replies)
What is the difference between Pink Salmon and Sockeye Salmon?  (71 replies)
job offer in Nikiski advise on where to live/schools?  (10 replies)
How's the Internet on the Kenai Penninsula?  (4 replies)

Latest news from Sterling, AK collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: English (15.2%), Irish (10.9%), German (10.9%), European (10.4%), American (8.3%), Dutch (3.8%).

Current Local Time: AKST time zone

Land area: 77.3 square miles.

Population density: 73 people per square mile   (very low).

Sterling, Alaska map

184 residents are foreign born (1.2% Asia, 0.8% North America, 0.7% Europe, 0.4% Latin America).

This place:

3.1%
Alaska:

7.9%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2021: $2,333 (0.7%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2021: $1,496 (0.6%)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Anchorage, AK (57.6 miles , pop. 260,283).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Los Angeles, CA (2331.6 miles , pop. 3,694,820).

Nearest cities:

Funny River, AK (1.6 miles ),
Ridgeway, AK (3.0 miles ),
Soldotna, AK (3.1 miles ),
Kalifornsky, AK (3.8 miles ),
Kenai, AK (3.8 miles ),
Salamatof, AK (4.2 miles ),
Nikiski, AK (4.5 miles ),
Kasilof, AK (4.5 miles )

Latitude: 60.53 N, Longitude: 150.80 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 907

Distribution of median household income in Sterling, AK in 2021
Distribution of house value in Sterling, AK in 2021
Unemployment in November 2020:
Here:

5.0%
Alaska:

4.0%
Most common industries in Sterling, AK (%)
Both Males Females
Most common industries in 2000
  • Construction (13.5%)
  • Mining, quarrying, oil & gas extraction (10.4%)
  • Accommodation & food services (8.4%)
  • Educational services (7.1%)
  • Health care (6.8%)
  • Public administration (6.0%)
  • Department & other general merchandise stores (4.9%)
Most common industries for males in 2000
  • Construction (20.0%)
  • Mining, quarrying, oil & gas extraction (18.0%)
  • Accommodation & food services (6.1%)
  • Public administration (5.1%)
  • Other transportation, support activities, couriers (4.9%)
  • Repair & maintenance (4.4%)
  • Educational services (3.9%)
Most common industries for females in 2000
  • Health care (12.4%)
  • Accommodation & food services (11.2%)
  • Educational services (11.1%)
  • Public administration (7.2%)
  • Department & other general merchandise stores (6.7%)
  • Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, similar organizations (5.8%)
  • Construction (5.3%)
Most common occupations in Sterling, AK (%)
Both Males Females
Most common occupations in 2000
  • Retail sales workers, except cashiers (5.6%)
  • Carpenters (5.1%)
  • Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5.0%)
  • Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (4.1%)
  • Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (4.0%)
  • Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (3.8%)
  • Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (3.8%)
Most common occupations for males in 2000
  • Carpenters (9.1%)
  • Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (9.0%)
  • Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (6.7%)
  • Construction traders workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (5.0%)
  • Extraction workers (4.8%)
  • Supervisors, construction and extraction workers (4.4%)
  • Retail sales workers, except cashiers (3.9%)
Most common occupations for females in 2000
  • Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (8.6%)
  • Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (7.8%)
  • Retail sales workers, except cashiers (7.7%)
  • Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (6.8%)
  • Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (5.8%)
  • Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (4.4%)
  • Cashiers (4.0%)

Average climate in Sterling, Alaska

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Sterling, Alaska average temperatures Sterling, Alaska average precipitation Sterling, Alaska humidity Sterling, Alaska wind speed Sterling, Alaska snowfall Sterling, Alaska sunshine Sterling, Alaska clear and cloudy days

Sterling, Alaska environmental map by EPA

Map Legend

Air pollution and air quality trends
(lower is better)
AQI PM10 PM2.5
Air Quality Index

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2013 was 37.6. This is significantly better than average.

City:

37.6
U.S.:

74.2
Particulate Matter Level

Particulate Matter (PM10) [µg/m3] level in 2013 was 13.4. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 9.7 miles away from the city center.

City:

13.4
U.S.:

19.6
Particulate Matter Level

Particulate Matter (PM2.5) [µg/m3] level in 2013 was 1.80. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 9.7 miles away from the city center.

City:

1.80
U.S.:

8.46

Earthquake activity:

Sterling-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Alaska state average. It is 7822% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 3/28/1964 at 03:36:12, a magnitude 9.2 (9.2 UK, Class: Great, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 112.3 miles away from the city center, causing $1,020,000,000 total damage
On 11/3/2002 at 22:12:41, a magnitude 8.5 (7.0 MB, 8.5 MS, 7.9 MW, 8.1 ME) earthquake occurred 230.7 miles away from Sterling center
On 8/27/1904 at 21:56:06, a magnitude 8.3 (8.3 UK) earthquake occurred 240.1 miles away from Sterling center
On 10/9/1900 at 12:28:00, a magnitude 8.3 (8.3 UK) earthquake occurred 256.5 miles away from Sterling center
On 11/3/2002 at 22:12:41, a magnitude 7.9 (7.9 MW, Depth: 2.6 mi, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 233.2 miles away from the city center
On 11/30/2018 at 17:29:29, a magnitude 7.1 (7.1 MW, Depth: 29.0 mi) earthquake occurred 63.2 miles away from Sterling center
Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), energy magnitude (ME), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Sterling topographic map

Hospitals and medical centers near Sterling:

  • 1ST CHOICE HOME HEALTH CARE, INC (Home Health Center, about 10 miles away; SOLDOTNA, AK)
  • CENTRAL PENINSULA GENERAL HOSPITAL Acute Care Hospitals (about 10 miles away; SOLDOTNA, AK)
  • HERITAGE PLACE (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; SOLDOTNA, AK)

Airports located in Sterling:

See details about airports located in Sterling, AK

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Sterling:

  • University of Alaska Anchorage (about 57 miles; Anchorage, AK; Full-time enrollment: 12,483)
  • Charter College-Anchorage (about 57 miles; Anchorage, AK; FT enrollment: 2,983)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks (about 314 miles; Fairbanks, AK; FT enrollment: 6,397)
  • Whatcom Community College (about 1376 miles; Bellingham, WA; FT enrollment: 3,265)
  • Western Washington University (about 1379 miles; Bellingham, WA; FT enrollment: 13,875)
  • Peninsula College (about 1383 miles; Port Angeles, WA; FT enrollment: 2,012)
  • Skagit Valley College (about 1400 miles; Mount Vernon, WA; FT enrollment: 3,803)

Public elementary/middle school in Sterling:

See full list of schools located in Sterling

Points of interest:

Click to draw/clear place borders

Notable location: Central Emergency Services Station 3 Sterling Station (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Lakes: Longmere Lake (A), Savka Lake (B), Scout Lake (C), Sunken Island Lake (D), Tree Lake (E), Whisper Lake (F), Calf Lake (G), Cisca Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

River: Moose River (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Park in Sterling: Scout Lake State Recreation Site (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Tourist attraction: Pederson's Moose River Resort (33881 Sterling Highway) (1). Display/hide its approximate location on the map

Hotels: Alaskan Abode B&B (35920 Sterling Highway) (1), Bing Brown's (Mi 81 Sterling Highway) (2), Great Alaska Adventure Lodge (33881 Sterling Highway) (3), JANA House (38670 SWanson River Road) (4). Display/hide their approximate locations on the map

Kenai Peninsula Borough has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Sterling and their reported violations in the past:

STERLING BAPTIST CHURCH (Population served: 135, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • One routine major monitoring violation
STERLING TESORO RESTAURANT (Population served: 102, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • 3 routine major monitoring violations
HIGHER GROUND BAPTIST CAMP (Population served: 90, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • 3 routine major monitoring violations
REAL ALASKAN CABINS & RV (Population served: 86, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • 4 routine major monitoring violations
SUZIES PLACE (Population served: 80, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • One regular monitoring violation
OTTOS LANDING/CHLOES CHOICE (Population served: 50, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • 5 routine major monitoring violations
  • One regular monitoring violation
BING BROWNS RESORT (Population served: 44, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) - Between JUL-2009 and SEP-2009, Contaminant: Coliform (TCR). Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (AUG-09-2011)
  • 6 routine major monitoring violations
  • One regular monitoring violation
GREAT ALASKA FISH CAMP (Population served: 41, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • 7 routine major monitoring violations
  • 3 regular monitoring violations

Drinking water stations with addresses in Sterling that have no violations reported:

  • ABUNDANT LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD (Population served: 154, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
  • MAGPYES PIZZERIA (Population served: 50, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
  • STERLING SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER (Population served: 35, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater)
Average household size:
This place:

2.5 people
Alaska:

2.6 people

Percentage of family households:
This place:

71.5%
Whole state:

66.2%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This place:

5.8%
Whole state:

8.6%


Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)
  • Lesbian couples: 0.3% of all households
  • Gay men: 0.3% of all households
12 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities in 2010
7 people in group homes intended for adults in 2010
8 people in other group homes in 2000
6 people in homes for the mentally retarded in 2000

For population 15 years and over in Sterling:

Marital status in Sterling, AK
  • Never married: 24.6%
  • Now married: 59.2%
  • Separated: 0.9%
  • Widowed: 3.4%
  • Divorced: 11.9%

For population 25 years and over in Sterling:

  • High school or higher: 95.5%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher: 29.2%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 11.2%
  • Unemployed: 9.7%
  • Mean travel time to work (commute): 23.9 minutes
Educational Attainment in 2021
School Enrollment by Level of School in 2021
Education Gini index (Inequality in education)
Here:

10.2
Alaska average:

10.4

Religion statistics for Sterling, AK (based on Kenai Peninsula Borough data)

Religions Adherents in 2010
Religions Adherents - Change between 2000 and 2010
ReligionAdherentsCongregations
Evangelical Protestant9,68881
Other3,07913
Catholic2,8106
Mainline Protestant1,40715
Orthodox8598
None37,557-
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 25
Kenai Peninsula Borough:

4.71 / 10,000 pop.
Alaska:

3.30 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
This county:

0.19 / 10,000 pop.
Alaska:

0.33 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 1
Here:

0.19 / 10,000 pop.
Alaska:

0.52 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 16
Kenai Peninsula Borough:

3.01 / 10,000 pop.
State:

2.30 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 71
Here:

13.38 / 10,000 pop.
Alaska:

7.82 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Here:

6.7%
Alaska:

6.3%
Adult obesity rate:
Kenai Peninsula Borough:

29.4%
Alaska:

27.8%

Health and Nutrition:

Healthy diet rate:
This city:

42.5%
State:

49.7%

Average overall health of teeth and gums:
Sterling:

38.2%
Alaska:

48.0%

Average BMI:
Sterling:

29.9
State:

28.7

People feeling badly about themselves:
This city:

32.3%
Alaska:

21.7%

People not drinking alcohol at all:
Sterling:

11.5%
Alaska:

9.7%

Average hours sleeping at night:
This city:

6.7
Alaska:

6.8

Overweight people:
This city:

40.7%
Alaska:

34.1%

General health condition:
Sterling:

49.5%
Alaska:

57.5%

Average condition of hearing:
This city:

79.1%
Alaska:

81.0%

More about Health and Nutrition of Sterling, AK Residents
Businesses in Sterling, AK
NameCountNameCount
FedEx1Lane Furniture1
La-Z-Boy1U-Haul1

Strongest AM radio stations in Sterling:

  • KSLD (1140 AM; 10 kW; SOLDOTNA, AK; Owner: KSRM, INC)
  • KSRM (920 AM; 5 kW; SOLDOTNA, AK; Owner: KSRM, INC.)
  • KENI (650 AM; 50 kW; ANCHORAGE, AK; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • KFQD (750 AM; 50 kW; ANCHORAGE, AK; Owner: MCC RADIO, LLC)
  • KBYR (700 AM; 10 kW; ANCHORAGE, AK; Owner: COBB COMMUNICATIONS,INC.)
  • KUDO (1080 AM; 10 kW; ANCHORAGE, AK; Owner: CHINOOK CONCERT BROADCASTERS, INC.)
  • KHAR (590 AM; 5 kW; ANCHORAGE, AK; Owner: MCC RADIO, LLC)
  • KTZN (550 AM; 5 kW; ANCHORAGE, AK; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • KBBI (890 AM; 10 kW; HOMER, AK; Owner: KACHEMAK BAY BROADCASTING INC)
  • KGTL (620 AM; 5 kW; HOMER, AK; Owner: PENINSULA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • KCHU (770 AM; 10 kW; VALDEZ, AK; Owner: TERMINAL RADIO, INC.)
  • KJNP (1170 AM; 50 kW; NORTH POLE, AK; Owner: EVAN. ALASKA MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP)
  • KSWD (950 AM; 1 kW; SEWARD, AK; Owner: NORTHERN RADIO, INC.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Sterling:

  • KKIS-FM (96.5 FM; SOLDOTNA, AK; Owner: KSRM, INC)
  • KWJG (91.5 FM; KASILOF, AK; Owner: KASILOF PUBLIC B/G INC)
  • KXBA (93.3 FM; NIKISKI, AK; Owner: PENINSULA COMMUNICATIONS INC)
  • KPEN-FM (101.7 FM; SOLDOTNA, AK; Owner: PENINSULA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • KWHQ-FM (100.1 FM; KENAI, AK; Owner: KSRM, INC.)
  • KDLL (91.9 FM; KENAI, AK; Owner: PICKLE HILL PUBLIC B/CASTING, INC.)

TV broadcast stations around Sterling:

  • K08LW (Channel 8; KENAI/SOLDOTNA, AK; Owner: NORTHERN TELEVISION, INC.)
  • K10NC (Channel 10; KENAI, ETC., AK; Owner: CHANNEL 2 BROADCASTING COMPANY)
  • K09QH (Channel 9; KENAI, ETC., AK; Owner: PIEDMONT TELEVISION OF ANCHORAGE LICENSE LLC)
  • K03FW (Channel 3; KENAI, ETC., AK; Owner: SMITH TELEVISION LICENSE HOLDINGS, INC.)
  • K06MF (Channel 6; KENAI, ETC., AK; Owner: FIREWEED COMMUNICATIONS CORP.)
  • K12LA (Channel 12; KENAI, ETC., AK; Owner: ALASKA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • K23AF (Channel 23; KENAI, ETC., AK; Owner: STATE OF ALASKA)
Sterling fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2021
Fatal road traffic accident statistics for 1975 - 2021
See more detailed statistics of Sterling fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2021 here
  • National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics
  • 21Number of bridges
  • 243ft / 73.8mTotal length
  • 70,090Total average daily traffic
  • 5,301Total average daily truck traffic
  • 95,790Total future (year 2030) average daily traffic
New bridges in Sterling, AK - historical statistics
  • New bridges - historical statistics
  • 81960-1969
  • 71970-1979
  • 21980-1989
  • 21990-1999
  • 22000-2009
See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Sterling, AK
FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 88 (See the full list of FCC Registered Antenna Towers in Sterling)
FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 8 (See the full list of FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers in Sterling, AK)
FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 41 (See the full list of FCC Registered Microwave Towers in this town)
FCC Registered Maritime Coast & Aviation Ground Towers: 2 (See the full list of FCC Registered Maritime Coast & Aviation Ground Towers)
FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 32 (See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Sterling)

FAA Registered Aircraft Manufacturers and Dealers: 3 (See the full list of FAA Registered Manufacturers and Dealers in Sterling)
FAA Registered Aircraft: 97 (See the full list of FAA Registered Aircraft)

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents

    Fire incident distribution by year Based on the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 18. The highest number of fire incidents - 38 took place in 2016, and the least - 5 in 2010. The data has a declining trend.
    Fire incident types in Sterling, AK When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Structure Fires (45.9%), and Outside Fires (34.4%).

    • Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Sterling, AK
    • 14445.9%Structure Fires
    • 10834.4%Outside Fires
    • 5918.8%Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires
    • 31.0%Other
See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Sterling, AK
Most common first names in Sterling, AK among deceased individuals
NameCountLived (average)
Richard667.6 years
David659.5 years
John669.7 years
Mary588.4 years
Donald565.3 years
Robert474.5 years
Raymond472.5 years
Edith368.0 years
Thomas376.0 years
William377.7 years
Most common last names in Sterling, AK among deceased individuals
Last nameCountLived (average)
Miller459.0 years
Townsley384.0 years
Cason278.0 years
Bolstridge276.5 years
King278.1 years
Gilbertson274.5 years
Galliher275.9 years
Baker268.0 years
Herrmann267.5 years
Eshleman273.5 years
Houses and condos Apartments
Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos in Sterling, AK
  • 79.5%Utility gas
  • 11.5%Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
  • 7.3%Wood
  • 1.7%Electricity
Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments in Sterling, AK
  • 58.9%Utility gas
  • 22.0%Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
  • 11.3%Electricity
  • 7.8%Bottled, tank, or LP gas


Sterling compared to Alaska state average:

  • Unemployed percentage below state average.
  • Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Median age significantly above state average.
  • Foreign-born population percentage below state average.
  • Renting percentage below state average.
  • Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.
  • House age below state average.

Sterling on our top lists:

  • #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the highest percentage of English-only speaking households, population 5,000+"
  • #53 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (population 5,000+)"
  • #68 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: information (population 5,000+)"
  • #1 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #44 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Particulate Matter (PM10) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #85 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Orthodox congregations"
There are 31 pilots and 12 other airmen in this city.
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