The Town FilesBethel, Alaska
City in Bethel Census Area · population 6,325 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $360,200
- Household income
- $117,255
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 64°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 32.4
Bethel is a city of 6,325 people in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. The median home is worth $360,200, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Alaska towns, more vibrant than 78% of Alaska towns.
How Bethel ranks
Percentile among Alaska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alaska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethel is worth $360,200, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $117,255, which is more affordable than 59% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,678 a month. 47.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethel | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $360,200 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,678 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $117,255 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 47.2% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Bethel
| People | Bethel | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.2% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 9.8 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Bethel
July highs average 63.6°F and January lows 1.2°F. About 19.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.0 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 214 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950.
Severe weather in Bethel Census Area since 1996
Bethel Census Area has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4893: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong |
| August 23, 2023 | Flood | DR-4730: Flooding |
| September 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4672: Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides |
| August 26, 2022 | Flood | DR-4667: Flooding |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Bethel Census Area
Bethel Census Area had 6,426 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,820 a year. Unemployment was 9.7% in 2023; in Bethel itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Bethel
6 public schools with 1,262 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Regional High School | 7-12 | 434 | 11.7 |
| Gladys Jung Elementary | 3-6 | 303 | 17.8 |
| Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat | PK-2 | 278 | 15.4 |
| Ayaprun Elitnaurvik (charter) | PK-8 | 184 | 15.3 |
| Kuskokwim Learning Academy | 9-12 | 44 | 11.0 |
| Bethel Youth Facility | 5-12 | 19 | 9.5 |
Bethel questions
Is Bethel, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethel scores better for retirees than 33% of Alaska towns and quieter than 14%. 7.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Bethel?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethel is valued at $360,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,255, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,678 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethel?
July highs average 63.6°F and January lows 1.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.7 inches of precipitation a year and 64.0 inches of snow.
Does Bethel get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Bethel in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)