How are homes heated in Sterling, AK?

Name: Heating fuel in Sterling, AK, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Sterling, used by 76.0% (±6.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

2.1% heat with electricity.

7.5% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 76.0% (±6.4 points)
Electricity: 2.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 7.5%

Heating fuel in Sterling

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Sterling	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Alaska	United States
Utility gas	76.0% (±6.4 points)	54.1%	49.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	7.5% (±3.9 points)	23.6%	27.6%	3.9%
Electricity	2.1% (±2.0 points)	7.9%	14.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.3% (±2.7 points)	4.0%	2.4%	4.9%
Wood	9.0% (±3.7 points)	8.8%	4.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.9 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.9 points)	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.1% (±2.2 points)	1.0%	1.0%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±0.9 points)	0.6%	0.7%	1.2%

The survey asks which fuel is used most to heat the home, so a home with a heat pump and an oil backup is counted once, under the one it uses most.

In Sterling, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Kenai Peninsula Borough (23.6%).

It is also lower than in Alaska (27.6%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Sterling, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Kenai Peninsula Borough (7.9%).

It is also lower than in Alaska (14.3%).

It is lower than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Sterling

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Sterling
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Sterling	—	2.1% (±2.0 points)	—
Funny River	3.9 mi	3.7% (±5.8 points)	Not measurably different
Ridgeway	8.4 mi	9.0% (±7.7 points)	Not measurably different
Soldotna	9.7 mi	16.6% (±5.9 points)	Higher
Kenai	14 mi	14.9% (±4.9 points)	Higher
Kalifornsky	15 mi	7.6% (±3.7 points)	Higher
Salamatof	18 mi	6.9% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Nikiski	19 mi	6.9% (±4.8 points)	Not measurably different
Cohoe	25 mi	6.6% (±3.6 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Soldotna, AK (16.6%), Kenai, AK (14.9%), Kalifornsky, AK (7.6%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes heated by fuel oil across Kenai Peninsula Borough, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
8	Funny River	29.3% (±12.4 points)
9	Homer	20.5% (±2.6 points)
10	Kachemak	20.2% (±6.0 points)
11	Nikiski	18.6% (±5.7 points)
12	Salamatof	9.0% (±5.3 points)
13	Kalifornsky	8.2% (±3.3 points)
14	Sterling	7.5% (±3.9 points)
15	Ridgeway	6.6% (±6.5 points)
16 (tie)	Kenai	0.0% (±0.8 points)
16 (tie)	Soldotna	0.0% (±1.4 points)

Showing 10 of 17 places in Kenai Peninsula Borough, ranked from highest to lowest.

Sterling is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Sterling

What is the most common way to heat a home in Sterling?

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Sterling, used by 76.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Sterling heat with oil?

7.5% (±3.9 points) of occupied homes in Sterling use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Sterling have electric heat?

2.1% (±2.0 points) of occupied homes in Sterling heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Sterling CDP, Alaska

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Sterling CDP, Alaska (place:73070, in state:02).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0063PE, DP04_0063PM, DP04_0066PE, DP04_0066PM, DP04_0065PE, DP04_0065PM, DP04_0064PE, DP04_0064PM, DP04_0068PE, DP04_0068PM, DP04_0069PE, DP04_0069PM, DP04_0067PE, DP04_0067PM, DP04_0070PE, DP04_0070PM, DP04_0071PE, DP04_0071PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.