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CITY

Bethel

North Carolina · 1,422 residents (2025 est.) · 1.052 sq mi
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The short version

Bethel has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,961. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $107,800. Households here earn about 27% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,544
−8%since 2000
from 1,681 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,468 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 1,598 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.9
+3%since 2000
from 39.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,422 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K2K2K2K1990201020202024Bethel
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,961
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,326 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,538
+107%since 2000
from $15,219 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.8%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
−3%since 2010
from 0.496 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information18.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,800
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$684
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $357 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.0% in 2000
32.8% rent
Vacancy rate
12.2%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.0%
−20.7 ptssince 2009
from 34.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
67.4%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−21%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bethel on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic40%(672)
Black57.9%(974)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(13)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score61.4%(1,032)
2024
White, non-Hispanic40.1%(619)
Black50.8%(785)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(25)
Asian0%(0)
Other7.4%(115)
Diversity Score71.9%(1,110)
Diversity Score
72
+17%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.6%
+24.3 ptssince 2000
from 59.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+59%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
91.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 88.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
0.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.8%
+11.3 ptssince 2011
from 46.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.5%
−33.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 41.9% in 2009
Female
54.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 40.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2012
from 17.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.3%
−74.5 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
71.2%
+22.8 ptssince 2017
from 48.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Bethel

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Head to head

Compare Bethel to nearby cities

BETHEL VS
Tarboro
Income$49,796−6%
Home value$185,500+72%
Population10,979+672%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BETHEL VS
Greenville
Income$49,748−6%
Home value$233,500+117%
Population96,443+6682%
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BETHEL VS
Winterville
Income$83,193+57%
Home value$245,100+127%
Population10,973+672%
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BETHEL VS
Washington
Income$40,186−24%
Home value$206,800+92%
Population9,910+597%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bethel, North Carolina?

Bethel, North Carolina has about 1,544 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bethel, North Carolina?

The typical household in Bethel, North Carolina earns about $52,961 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bethel, North Carolina expensive?

In Bethel, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $107,800, and the typical rent is about $684 a month.

How educated are people in Bethel, North Carolina?

About 14.8% of adults age 25 and over in Bethel, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bethel, North Carolina?

About 16.8% of people in Bethel, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bethel, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Bethel, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 341 residents, a change of about -18 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 →

Bethel, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy