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Sterling, AK

Census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. ZIP codes: 99672.

Population

6,323

Land area

77.8sq mi

People per sq mi

81

ZIP codes

1

Sterling and its ZIP codes

Full map

Sterling at a glance

  • Sterling is about 63 times as dense as Alaska as a whole.
  • It is the 16th most populous of 326 cities and towns in Alaska.
  • Households here earn a median of $102,415 a year, 10% more than the Alaska figure of $92,788.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $353,400 and median rent is $1,248 a month.

Local data for Sterling, AK

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Sterling, AK, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$102,415

Poverty rate

4.6%

Median home value

$353,400

Median rent

$1,248/mo

Homeownership

86.6%

Bachelor's or higher

29.2%

Median age

46.8

Average commute

30.1 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,636), Irish Americans (722), Scottish Americans (293).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Kenai Peninsula Borough. PPP loans are for Sterling.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$66,145

21,722 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$67,429

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$700M

FY 2026, $11,898 per person

PPP loans

$3.9M

72 loans, 437 jobs reported

Kenai Peninsula Borough economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Sterling, AK, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone61.7%
  • Carpooled15.0%
  • Public transit1.0%
  • Walked2.4%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other5.4%
  • Worked from home14.6%

Average one-way commute: 30.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Sterling, AK, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: avalanche

Storm events since 1996

43

Countywide, mostly flood

Flood insurance policies

288

0.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

66° / 8°F

23.1 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Sterling, AK, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

31.7%

U.S. 33.3% -1.6 pts

Diabetes

9.9%

U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts

Smoking

14.9%

U.S. 12.8% +2.1 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.3%

U.S. 11.1% -2.8 pts

ZIP codes in Sterling

1 in or overlapping Sterling. Population shown

·

Cities near Sterling

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
Funny RiverCensus-designated place4.6 mi26.7
RidgewayCensus-designated place5.7 mi16.8
SoldotnaCity8.1 mi6.9
KenaiCity12 mi29.1
KalifornskyCensus-designated place13 mi68.8
SalamatofCensus-designated place17 mi8
NikiskiCensus-designated place18 mi69.5
KasilofCensus-designated place19 mi10.4
CohoeCensus-designated place23 mi69.9
Point PossessionCensus-designated place27 mi42
Clam GulchCensus-designated place29 mi13.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Sterling, AK in?
Sterling is in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.
What ZIP codes are in Sterling, AK?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Sterling include 99672.
What is the population of Sterling, AK?
About 6,323 people live in Sterling, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Sterling?
Nearby places include Funny River (4.6 mi), Ridgeway (5.7 mi), Soldotna (8.1 mi), Kenai (12 mi), Kalifornsky (13 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023