Living in Sterling, Alaska
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Sterling · Census data 2020–2024
Sterling has 6,323 residents with a median age of 46.8. The median household income is $102,415 (10% higher than the Alaska median), the median home value is $353,400, the median rent is $1,248/month.
Sterling at a glance
- Population
- 6,323
- Median age
- 46.8State: 35.8
- Median household income
- $102,415State: $92,788
- Median home value
- $353,400State: $352,900
- Median rent
- $1,248/moState: $1,419
- Homeowners
- 86.6%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29.2%
- Average commute
- 30 min
Is Sterling a good place to live?
Pros: Median household income 10% higher than the Alaska median; unemployment of 5%; a poverty rate of 4.6%.
Cons: Home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 30 minutes.
The weather is best in May to August.
Cost of living in Sterling
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Sterling the median home value is $353,400, 6% higher than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,248 per month, which is 20.8% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $2,050 a month in housing costs.
Sterling median household income
The median household income in Sterling is $102,415 and the income per person is $64,024. 4.6% of residents live below the poverty line (Alaska: 10.1%).
Housing in Sterling: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 3,828
- Owner-occupied
- 86.6%
- Renter-occupied
- 13.4%
- Vacant
- 29%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1994
- Average household size
- 2.32
Sterling demographics
- Population
- 6,323
- Median age
- 46.8
- Under 18
- 18.5%
- 65 and older
- 27.7%
- Households
- 2,718
- Foreign-born
- 3.4%
- Veterans
- 14.1%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Sterling ›
Education in Sterling
29.2% of adults 25 and older in Sterling have a bachelor's degree or higher (Alaska: 31.7%), and 9.5% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Sterling
- Unemployment rate
- 5%State: 5.9%
- Average commute
- 30 minState: 19 min
- Work from home
- 14.6%
- Drive alone
- 61.7%
- Public transit
- 1%
- Walk to work
- 2.4%
- Homes with broadband
- 91.8%
Sterling vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | 6,323 | $102,415 | $353,400 | $1,248 |
| Funny River | 1,081 | $67,656 | $250,000 | — |
| Ridgeway | 1,997 | $90,391 | $303,900 | — |
| Soldotna | 4,485 | $56,280 | $306,000 | $1,020 |
| Kenai | 7,641 | $87,083 | $283,900 | $1,138 |
| Kalifornsky | 8,663 | $93,508 | $336,800 | $1,394 |
| Salamatof | 1,149 | $66,500 | $323,300 | $775 |
| Nikiski | 4,773 | $65,863 | $312,600 | $996 |
| Kasilof | 313 | $63,386 | $445,900 | $1,559 |
More for people moving to Sterling
Sterling ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Sterling: FAQ
What is the median household income in Sterling, AK?
The median household income in Sterling is $102,415, 10% higher than the Alaska median of $92,788 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Sterling?
The median home value in Sterling is $353,400, compared with $352,900 in Alaska.
How much is rent in Sterling?
The median gross rent in Sterling is $1,248 per month, about 20.8% of household income.
Is Sterling, AK a good place to live?
Pluses: median household income 10% higher than the Alaska median; unemployment of 5%; a poverty rate of 4.6%. Minuses: home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 30 minutes.
What is the median age in Sterling?
The median age in Sterling is 46.8 years (Alaska: 35.8).
How long is the commute in Sterling?
The average commute to work in Sterling is 30 minutes; 14.6% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Sterling?
The unemployment rate in Sterling is 5% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Sterling?
29.2% of adults in Sterling have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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