City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Sterling, AK

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sterling - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,776
Residents
$110,341
Median income
$346,100
Median home
$1,312
Median rent (state)

Sterling - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Sterling places in the 83rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

83rd
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sterling, AK

Sterling is a small town in Alaska, home to 6,776 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $110,341 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.0%. Home values in Sterling run a median of $346,100, and the median resident age is 45.1 years. 31.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 51.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 35.7°F with 23.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Alaska tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Alaska scores 102.4 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,312 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alaska run around $271, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 93.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

6,776 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$110,341 /yr

Poverty 2.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Sterling compare to other US cities?

Sterling measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 83% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Sterling against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alaska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alaska-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Sterling toward the top of Alaska's cities

Among the 200 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Sterling ranks #24 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sterling only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#12 of 215
94th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#146 of 228
25th percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#24 of 200
88th percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#184 of 225
18th percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#42 of 228
82nd percentile in Alaska

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alaska only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

83rdIncome percentile

83rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sterling's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$346,100 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sterling $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sterling, AK Sterling, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sterling, AK-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sterling, AK median $110,341/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sterling, AK's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sterling, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,776
Median Income
$110,341
Median Home Value
$346,100
Median Age
45.1
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Labor force participation
51.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
35.7°F
Annual Precipitation
23.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.2%
Carpool
15.2%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
12.7%
Other
4.6%

Based on 2,704 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alaska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$271
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alaska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alaska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sterling sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,312/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Gateway
6,716 people
Bethel
6,313 people
Palmer
6,141 people
South Lakes
6,132 people
Kenai
7,562 people
Chena Ridge
5,927 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterling's 6,776 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

University at Buffalo, NY
6,776 people
Chestnut Hill, PA
6,774 people
Atlantic, IA
6,773 people
Bonne Terre, MO
6,773 people
Belle Mead, NJ
6,772 people
South Monroe, MI
6,771 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sterling's $110,341 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Armada, MI
$110,345 median income
Tullahassee, OK
$110,333 median income
Lowry Crossing, TX
$110,357 median income
Bonsall, CA
$110,316 median income
North Decatur, GA
$110,366 median income
Butler, NJ
$110,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sterling, AK Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sterling, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.8% White 91.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.1% American Indian 2.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 4.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sterling compares to nearby Alaska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sterling (this city) 6,776 $110,341
Gateway 6,716 $137,150
Bethel 6,313 $109,718
Palmer 6,141 $70,550
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sterling, AK?

What is the population of Sterling, AK? +

Sterling, AK counts 6,776 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sterling, AK? +

Sterling households earn a median of $110,341 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sterling? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sterling; the closest available measure is the Alaska state average, a cost of living index of 102.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alaska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sterling, AK? +

A typical home in Sterling is worth $346,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Sterling? +

The average annual temperature in Sterling runs 35.7°F, 23.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.