The Town FilesBethel, North Carolina
Town in Pitt County · population 1,373 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,800
- Household income
- $52,961
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.9
Bethel is a town of 1,373 people in Pitt County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $107,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 91% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Bethel ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethel is worth $107,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $52,961, which is more affordable than 97% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethel | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $684 | $969 |
| Median household income | $52,961 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Bethel
| People | Bethel | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 0.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Bethel
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 12, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Pitt County since 1996
Pitt County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Pitt County
Pitt County had 81,371 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,866 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bethel itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in Bethel
2 public schools with 1,107 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Pitt High | 9-12 | 867 | 16.4 |
| Bethel Elementary | PK-8 | 240 | 12.0 |
Towns near Bethel
- Robersonville, NC7.0 mi · 1,269 people · home $94,500
- Princeville, NC10.2 mi · 1,254 people · home $106,000
- Tarboro, NC12.2 mi · 10,721 people · home $185,500
- Greenville, NC14.6 mi · 87,521 people · home $233,500
- Pinetops, NC14.7 mi · 1,200 people · home $136,500
- Williamston, NC17.6 mi · 5,248 people · home $107,100
- Farmville, NC19.0 mi · 4,461 people · home $183,000
- Winterville, NC19.3 mi · 10,462 people · home $245,100
Bethel questions
Is Bethel, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethel scores better for retirees than 52% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 66%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Bethel?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethel is valued at $107,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,961, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethel?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Bethel get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)