The Town Files

Bethel Census Area, Alaska

18,394 people. The median home is worth $168,100 (typical Alaska town: $289,500) and the median household earns $73,996.

Towns in Bethel Census Area

Towns in Bethel Census Area

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Bethel6,325$360,200$117,25532.4

People and housing

Bethel Census AreaTypical Alaska town
Median home value$168,100$289,500
Median rent$1,474$1,146
Median household income$73,996$78,155
Median age29.037.2
Bachelor's degree or higher12.8%22.4%
Below the poverty line25.6%11.9%

Jobs and pay

6,426 jobs in 2024, average pay $54,820 a year.

Largest industries in Bethel Census AreaRetail809 jobs · $26,150Other services582 jobs · $49,666Transportation & warehousing252 jobs · $66,011Real estate146 jobs · $59,286Utilities112 jobs · $30,461Hotels & restaurants90 jobs · $47,379
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Bethel Census Area0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 9.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 20 storm events in Bethel Census Area from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Bethel Census Area by type since 1996Blizzard11Wildfire3High Wind2Ice Storm2Coastal Flood2
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Bethel Census Area has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
October 22, 2025FloodDR-4893: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong
August 23, 2023FloodDR-4730: Flooding
September 23, 2022Severe StormDR-4672: Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides
August 26, 2022FloodDR-4667: Flooding
April 9, 2020BiologicalDR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3446: Covid-19
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).