Sterling SnackAbility
Overall SnackAbility
Cost of living in Sterling summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Sterling. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Alaska. Key points include:
The cost of living in Sterling is 127 with 100 being average.
The cost of living in Sterling is 1.3x higher than the national average.
The median home value in Sterling is $342,733.
The median income in Sterling is $102,415.
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
Cost Of Living In Sterling Comparison Table
| Living Expense | Sterling | Alaska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 122 | 100 |
| Services | 124 | 117 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Health | 149 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 125 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 116 | 100 |
Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100
Sterling, AK Weather
The average high in Sterling is 44.6° and the average low is 28.9°.
There are 73.2 days of precipitation each year.
Expect an average of 32.2 inches of precipitation each year with 80.7 inches of snow.
| Stat | Sterling |
|---|---|
| Average Annual High | 44.6 |
| Average Annual Low | 28.9 |
| Annual Precipitation Days | 73.2 |
| Average Annual Precipitation | 32.2 |
| Average Annual Snowfall | 80.7 |
Average High
Days of Rain
Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)
Rankings & Articles For Sterling
Locations Around Sterling
Map Of Sterling, AK
Sterling Demographics And Statistics
Population over time in Sterling
The current population in Sterling is 6,323. The population has increased 19.1% from 2010.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,323 | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 6,776 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 6,307 | 4.8% |
| 2021 | 6,016 | 16.8% |
| 2020 | 5,150 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 5,169 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 5,321 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5,387 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 5,661 | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 6,054 | 5.3% |
| 2014 | 5,748 | 9.9% |
| 2013 | 5,231 | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 5,419 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 5,476 | 3.2% |
| 2010 | 5,308 | - |
Race / Ethnicity in Sterling
See the full breakdown
Sterling is:
90.5% White with 5,720 White residents.
0.3% African American with 18 African American residents.
3.4% American Indian with 212 American Indian residents.
0.2% Asian with 11 Asian residents.
0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.
0.2% Other with 13 Other residents.
2.6% Two Or More with 162 Two Or More residents.
3.0% Hispanic with 187 Hispanic residents.
| Race | Sterling | AK | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.5% | 57.7% | 57.4% |
| African American | 0.3% | 2.9% | 11.9% |
| American Indian | 3.4% | 13.2% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 0.2% | 6.4% | 5.9% |
| Hawaiian | 0.0% | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Two Or More | 2.6% | 10.3% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic | 3.0% | 7.3% | 19.3% |
Gender in Sterling
See the full breakdown
Sterling is 49.1% female with 3,103 female residents.
Sterling is 50.9% male with 3,219 male residents.
| Gender | Sterling | AK | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 49.1% | 47.5% | 50.5% |
| Male | 50.9% | 52.5% | 49.5% |
Highest level of educational attainment in Sterling for adults over 25
See the full breakdown
1.0% of adults in Sterling completed < 9th grade.
2.0% of adults in Sterling completed 9-12th grade.
29.0% of adults in Sterling completed high school / ged.
29.0% of adults in Sterling completed some college.
10.0% of adults in Sterling completed associate's degree.
20.0% of adults in Sterling completed bachelor's degree.
6.0% of adults in Sterling completed master's degree.
2.0% of adults in Sterling completed professional degree.
1.0% of adults in Sterling completed doctorate degree.
| Education | Sterling | AK | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 1.0% | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| 9-12th Grade | 2.0% | 5.0% | 6.0% |
| High School / GED | 29.0% | 29.0% | 26.0% |
| Some College | 29.0% | 24.0% | 19.0% |
| Associate's Degree | 10.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 20.0% | 20.0% | 22.0% |
| Master's Degree | 6.0% | 9.0% | 10.0% |
| Professional Degree | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Doctorate Degree | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
Household Income For Sterling, Alaska
See the full breakdown
2.1% of households in Sterling earn Less than $10,000.
0.8% of households in Sterling earn $10,000 to $14,999.
5.6% of households in Sterling earn $15,000 to $24,999.
2.6% of households in Sterling earn $25,000 to $34,999.
8.7% of households in Sterling earn $35,000 to $49,999.
13.6% of households in Sterling earn $50,000 to $74,999.
14.5% of households in Sterling earn $75,000 to $99,999.
22.2% of households in Sterling earn $100,000 to $149,999.
11.7% of households in Sterling earn $150,000 to $199,999.
18.2% of households in Sterling earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | Sterling | AK | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.0% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 0.8% | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 5.6% | 5.4% | 6.3% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2.6% | 4.9% | 6.6% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 8.7% | 8.9% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 13.6% | 14.7% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 14.5% | 13.6% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 22.2% | 19.9% | 17.5% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 11.7% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| $200,000 or more | 18.2% | 14.6% | 13.4% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)
