CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Sterling

Alaska · 5,617 residents · 77.78 sq mi
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The short version

Sterling is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $64,545. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $221,600. With a median age of 44.1, the population is older than the US median of 37.2. Poverty is rare here, at 5.8% of residents.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 44.1
US median: 37.2
Average education
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,617
+19%since 2000
from 4,705 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Median age
44.1
+21%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K5K6K7K1990201020202024Sterling
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55.4%(302)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95.3%(295)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 146.8%(381)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 197.4%(414)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 244.7%(264)
US avg: 7%
25 to 349.8%(548)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4412%(672)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5419%(1,070)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6417.3%(969)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 748.2%(458)
US avg: 7%
75 to 843.1%(174)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over1.2%(70)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,545
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,700 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,672
+58%since 2000
from $20,741 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
42.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
5.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.416
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Wholesale trade15.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing9.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Information8.9%
US avg: 11.5%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade5%
US avg: 10.9%
Arts, entertainment, food4.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 7%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration0.4%
US avg: 4.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$221,600
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $119,800 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$775
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $628 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
49.3%
−35.4 ptssince 2000
from 84.7% in 2000
17.3% rent
Vacancy rate
28.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
23.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.4
−1%since 2009
from 3.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sterling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(4,323)
Black0.4%(17)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(57)
Asian0.5%(25)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic88.2%(4,952)
Black0.1%(8)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(150)
Asian0.8%(44)
Other4.1%(230)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.6%(34)
Mexican0.4%(21)
Ancestry
German20.6%(1,096)
English15%(795)
Irish10.3%(547)
Norwegian6.6%(348)
Italian5%(267)
French4.7%(248)
Swedish3.7%(198)
Scottish3.4%(182)
Scotch-Irish2.8%(147)
Finnish2.2%(118)
American2.2%(117)
Welsh2.1%(113)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch2%(108)
Polish1.6%(85)
Canadian1.3%(69)
Czech1.1%(57)
Swiss1%(51)
Russian0.8%(43)
Greek0.6%(34)
Slovak0.5%(28)
Lithuanian0.5%(27)
British0.5%(26)
Hungarian0.5%(25)
Croatian0.2%(11)
Danish0.2%(9)
Australian0.1%(7)
Bulgarian0.1%(7)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.2%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.8% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
94.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 89.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
8.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+15%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
75.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 72.9% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
7.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
1.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
15.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
32.0%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Female
47.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
17.8%
−36.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married21.5%(576)
Married64.6%(1,726)
Widowed3.4%(91)
Divorced10.5%(280)
Women 15+
Never married18.7%(498)
Married62.4%(1,662)
Widowed8.7%(233)
Divorced10.2%(271)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Sterling to nearby cities

STERLING VS
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Home value$336,800+52%
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STERLING VS
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STERLING VS
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STERLING VS
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Home value$358,400+62%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sterling, Alaska?

Sterling, Alaska has about 5,617 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sterling, Alaska?

The typical household in Sterling, Alaska earns about $64,545 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sterling, Alaska expensive?

In Sterling, Alaska, the median home is worth about $221,600, and the typical rent is about $775 a month.

How educated are people in Sterling, Alaska?

About 24.2% of adults age 25 and over in Sterling, Alaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sterling, Alaska?

About 5.8% of people in Sterling, Alaska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sterling, Alaska grown since 1990?

Yes, Sterling, Alaska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,815 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →