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COUNTY

Bethel Census Area

Alaska · 18,391 residents (2025 est.) · 40,638.578 sq mi
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The short version

Bethel Census Area has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,996. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $168,100. At a median age of 29.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,394
+15%since 2000
from 16,006 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
0 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 0 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
29.0
+15%since 2000
from 25.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,391 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K15K16K18K19K1990201020202024Bethel Census Area
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 510.3%(1,890)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 910.1%(1,858)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.1%(1,678)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.3%(1,518)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.2%(1,317)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.2%(2,804)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(2,113)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.3%(1,705)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.7%(1,973)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 746%(1,112)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 841.8%(336)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.5%(90)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,996
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,701 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,543
+111%since 2000
from $12,603 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.9%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.6%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.448
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.446 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Education & health services3.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade0.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$168,100
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,474
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $814 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 61.1% in 2000
38.4% rent
Vacancy rate
19.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
18.2%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+1%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
7
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bethel Census Area on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic12.2%(1,958)
Black0.4%(59)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(140)
Asian1%(168)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic8.3%(1,529)
Black1.2%(228)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(270)
Asian1.6%(288)
Other87.4%(16,079)
Diversity Score
29
−4%since 2009
from 30 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
53
−1%since 2020
from 54 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1%(190)
Guatemalan0.3%(54)
Asian origin
Korean0.8%(152)
Filipino0.7%(122)
Asian Indian0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.3%(46)
Tongan0.1%(13)
Samoan0.1%(10)
Ancestry
German3.1%(576)
Norwegian2%(362)
Irish1.5%(285)
English1.5%(268)
French0.6%(112)
Hungarian0.5%(100)
Italian0.5%(100)
American0.5%(94)
Russian0.4%(82)
West Indian0.4%(67)
Polish0.3%(62)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Macedonian0.3%(59)
Scottish0.2%(43)
Nigerian0.2%(35)
British0.2%(33)
Haitian0.2%(33)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(24)
Swedish0.1%(22)
Armenian0.1%(18)
Danish0.1%(17)
Welsh0.1%(17)
Jamaican0.1%(15)
Dutch0%(8)
Greek0%(6)
Finnish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.2%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 71.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.9%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
7.4 min
−12%since 2000
from 8.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
22.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
30.4%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
57.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
15.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 16.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
45.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.3%
−25.3 ptssince 2009
from 61.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Female
46.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−45.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.0%
−61.2 ptssince 2013
from 73.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.9%
+14.3 ptssince 2017
from 70.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
41.8%
+6.4 ptssince 2016
from 35.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married51.7%(3,592)
Married42.1%(2,927)
Widowed2%(137)
Divorced4.3%(297)
Women 15+
Never married44.1%(2,652)
Married43.6%(2,621)
Widowed7.3%(440)
Divorced5%(302)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Bethel Census Area to nearby counties

BETHEL CENSUS AREA VS
Dillingham Census Area
Income$78,533+6%
Home value$159,000−5%
Population4,483−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?

Bethel Census Area, Alaska has about 18,394 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?

The typical household in Bethel Census Area, Alaska earns about $73,996 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bethel Census Area, Alaska expensive?

In Bethel Census Area, Alaska, the median home is worth about $168,100, and the typical rent is about $1,474 a month.

How educated are people in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?

About 12.8% of adults age 25 and over in Bethel Census Area, Alaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?

About 25.6% of people in Bethel Census Area, Alaska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bethel Census Area, Alaska grown since 1990?

Yes, Bethel Census Area, Alaska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,738 residents, a change of about 35 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 1Census Tract 2Census Tract 3
27 ZIP codes
ZIP 99503ZIP 99559ZIP 99655ZIP 99621ZIP 99637ZIP 99551ZIP 99557ZIP 99614ZIP 99609ZIP 99634ZIP 99561ZIP 99641ZIP 99622ZIP 99680ZIP 99681ZIP 99552ZIP 99630ZIP 99626ZIP 99607ZIP 99578ZIP 99679ZIP 99589ZIP 99690ZIP 99668ZIP 99651ZIP 99575ZIP 99656
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →