The Town FilesBethel, New York
Town in Sullivan County · population 3,959 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,700
- Household income
- $67,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 47.0
Bethel is a town of 3,959 people in Sullivan County, New York. The median home is worth $247,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 79% of New York towns, quieter than 73% of New York towns.
How Bethel ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethel is worth $247,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $67,048, which is more affordable than 31% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,240 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethel | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,240 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $67,048 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.4% | — |
Who lives in Bethel
| People | Bethel | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Bethel
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 13.2°F. About 53.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 22, 2023 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 22, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 22, 2023.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 30,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,182 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Bethel itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Bethel
- Monticello, NY9.0 mi · 7,173 people · home $172,000
- Liberty, NY9.3 mi · 10,159 people · home $248,500
- Liberty, NY9.4 mi · 4,700 people · home $181,900
- Thompson, NY9.6 mi · 16,550 people · home $229,000
- Callicoon, NY10.8 mi · 2,989 people · home $316,800
- Fallsburg, NY13.4 mi · 14,192 people · home $256,000
- Damascus, PA14.3 mi · 3,674 people · home $282,200
- Lackawaxen, PA17.3 mi · 5,072 people · home $278,800
Bethel questions
Is Bethel, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethel scores better for retirees than 55% of New York towns and quieter than 73%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Bethel?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethel is valued at $247,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,048, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,240 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethel?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 13.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.1 inches of precipitation a year and 61.3 inches of snow.
Does Bethel get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 22, 2023. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)