Sterling is a CDP located in Kenai Peninsula Borough Alaska. Sterling has a 2024 population of 6,422. Sterling is currently growing at a rate of 0.91% annually and its population has increased by 24.7% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 5,150 in 2020.
The average household income in Sterling is $141,993 with a poverty rate of 9.86%. The median age in Sterling is 47.6 years: 48.8 years for males, and 46.1 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Sterling was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 5,674 | 89.96% |
| Two or more races | 337 | 5.34% |
| Native American | 208 | 3.3% |
| Asian | 63 | 1% |
| Other race | 25 | 0.4% |
| Black or African American | 0 | 0% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
White
Two or more races
Native American
Asian
Other race
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2,622 | 2.4 | 87.5 | 12.5 |
| Married | 1,382 | 3.07 | 90.9 | 9.1 |
| Non Family | 1,035 | 1.17 | 83.4 | 16.6 |
| Female | 145 | 4.66 | 80 | 20 |
| Male | 60 | 2.6 | 100 | 0 |
3.12
Average Family Size
2.4
Average Household Size
87.5%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 127 | 2.77% |
| Associates Degree | 353 | 7.69% |
| Bachelors Degree | 809 | 17.62% |
| Graduate Degree | 531 | 11.56% |
| High School Graduate | 1,437 | 31.29% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 71 | 1.55% |
| Some College | 1,264 | 27.53% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 4,216 | 4,035 | 1,266 |
| 2+ Races | 199 | 199 | 43 |
| Native American | 110 | 110 | 31 |
| Hispanic | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| Asian | 42 | 25 | 0 |
| Other Race | 25 | 25 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 30.03%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $47,470 | $117,935 | $30,724 |
| Graduate Degree | $81,429 | $0 | $71,100 |
| High School Graduate | $52,019 | $73,696 | $37,774 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $35,324 | $0 | $0 |
| Overall | $66,692 | $88,206 | $39,665 |
| Some College | $72,428 | $87,162 | $54,228 |
$66,692
Average Earnings
$88,206
Average Male
$39,665
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
96.08% of Sterling residents speak only English, while 3.92% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 2.63% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 5,665 | 561 | 9.9% |
| Multiple | 337 | 48 | 14.24% |
| Hispanic | 125 | 29 | 23.2% |
| Native | 197 | 11 | 5.58% |
9.86%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.63%
Male Poverty Rate
8.99%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Sterling is Hispanic, with 23.2% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Sterling is Native, with 5.58% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 0%. Among those working part-time, it was 6.68%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 16.08%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 37.37% |
| High School | 10.57% |
| Some College | 4.92% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 2.01% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 36.99% |
| Female Employed | 2.15% |
| Male Employed | 1.67% |
| Male Unemployed | 0% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $134,940 | $194,575 |
| Households | $98,542 | $141,993 |
| Married Families | $147,788 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $41,658 | $59,860 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
53.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
52.9%
Male Marriage Rate
54.8%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
636
Number of Veterans
615
Male Veterans
21
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 320 |
| Second Gulf War | 131 |
| First Gulf War | 130 |
| Korea | 0 |
| World War II | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | 230 |
| 35 to 54 | 167 |
| 75+ | 155 |
| 55 to 64 | 84 |
| 18 to 34 | 0 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 593 | 12.94% |
| 2+ Races | 38 | 13.48% |
| Other Race | 5 | 20% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
5.97%
Veteran Poverty Rate
43.24%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
58.6%
Labor Force Participation
52.4%
Employment Rate
10.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
31.33%
Born in Sterling
96.05%
Native Born
3.95%
Foreign Born
2.2%
Non Citizen
1.74%
Naturalized
96.05% of Sterling residents were born in the United States, with 31.33% having been born in Alaska. 2.2% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,422 | 58 | 0.91% |
| 2023 | 6,364 | 57 | 0.9% |
| 2022 | 6,307 | 291 | 4.84% |
| 2021 | 6,016 | 866 | 16.82% |
| 2020 | 5,150 | -19 | -0.37% |
| 2019 | 5,169 | -152 | -2.86% |
| 2018 | 5,321 | -66 | -1.23% |
| 2017 | 5,387 | -274 | -4.84% |
| 2016 | 5,661 | -393 | -6.49% |
| 2015 | 6,054 | 306 | 5.32% |
| 2014 | 5,748 | 517 | 9.88% |
| 2013 | 5,231 | -188 | -3.47% |
| 2012 | 5,419 | -57 | -1.04% |
| 2011 | 5,476 | -141 | -2.51% |
| 2010 | 5,617 | 0 | 0% |