What are the schools like in Sterling, AK?

Sterling is served primarily by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The district operates 17 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.6:1.

What is the median household income in Sterling?

The median household income in Sterling, AK is $98,542 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.5%.

What is the weather like in Sterling, AK?

Sterling has an average high temperature of 21.6°F in January and 66.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 23.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 77.9 inches.

Sterling, AK Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sterling, AK affordable or expensive?

Sterling's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sterling is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $332,400 and the median rent is $1,050 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sterling, AK?

Sterling has a violent crime rate of 71.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 427.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sterling, AK a Good Place to Live?

Sterling is a small town of 6,307 in Alaska, with a median household income of $98,542 and a 10.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Sterling stands out for solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sterling is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sterling city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 101.3

Sterling's overall cost of living index is 101.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sterling costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Sterling, AK	National Avg
Median Home Value	$332,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,050	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$98,542	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sterling's violent crime rate is 71.5 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

71.5 /100k

Property Crime

427.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sterling is served primarily by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sterling, AK	National Avg
School District	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	—
Elementary Schools	17	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sterling sees average highs of 21.6°F in January and 66.1°F in July, with 23.1 inches of annual precipitation and 77.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sterling, AK
Average High — January	21.6°F
Average High — July	66.1°F
Annual Precipitation	23.1"
Annual Snowfall	77.9"

Demographics

Metric	Sterling, AK	National Avg
Population	6,307	—
Median Age	47.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.5%	22.2%
65 and over	22.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Funny River, AK 4 mi Ridgeway, AK 8 mi Soldotna, AK 10 mi Kenai, AK 14 mi Kalifornsky, AK 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Sterling

Sterling, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99672

Sterling vs Other Cities

Sterling, AK vs Funny River, AK Sterling, AK vs Ridgeway, AK Sterling, AK vs Soldotna, AK Sterling, AK vs Kenai, AK Sterling, AK vs Kalifornsky, AK

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sterling, AK affordable or expensive?

Sterling's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Sterling roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $332,400 and median rent is $1,050/month.

What is the crime rate in Sterling, AK?

Sterling's violent crime rate is 71.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 427.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sterling?

Public schools in Sterling are operated by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The district has 17 elementary, 4 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 29.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sterling, AK a good place to live?

Sterling, AK has a population of 6,307, a median household income of $98,542, and an unemployment rate of 10.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sterling?

Sterling averages 21.6°F in January and 66.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 23.1 inches with about 77.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sterling?

Sterling, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99672.

What is the population of Sterling?

The population of Sterling, Alaska is 6,307 with a median age of 47.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sterling?

Key numbers for living in Sterling: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $332,400, median household income $98,542, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sterling side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.