The Town FilesBethel, Washington
Community in Kitsap County · population 4,073 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $473,900
- Household income
- $79,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.1
Bethel is a community of 4,073 people in Kitsap County, Washington. The median home is worth $473,900, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better transit than 96% of Washington towns, better for families than 76% of Washington towns.
How Bethel ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethel is worth $473,900, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $79,583, which is more affordable than 30% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,170 a month. 87.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethel | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $473,900 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,170 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $79,583 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 87.6% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Bethel
| People | Bethel | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 14.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 99.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Bethel
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 56.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 18, 2018 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 18, 2018.
Severe weather in Kitsap County since 1996
Kitsap County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
| December 8, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1734: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 17, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1641: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 7, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3227: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kitsap County
Kitsap County had 93,571 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,579 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Bethel itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Towns near Bethel
- East Port Orchard, WA2.2 mi · 5,262 people · home $435,900
- Parkwood, WA2.7 mi · 7,635 people · home $441,400
- Port Orchard, WA3.6 mi · 15,587 people · home $539,700
- Navy Yard City, WA5.0 mi · 2,759 people · home $342,600
- Manchester, WA5.5 mi · 5,714 people · home $478,200
- Bremerton, WA5.9 mi · 43,505 people · home $439,400
- Wauna, WA7.6 mi · 4,421 people · home $503,300
- Canterwood, WA7.7 mi · 3,572 people · home $892,400
Bethel questions
Is Bethel, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethel scores better for retirees than 20% of Washington towns and quieter than 62%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Bethel?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethel is valued at $473,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,583, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,170 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethel?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Bethel get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 18, 2018. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)