1st Advantage MortgageAbout 62% of Bethel Census Area homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $73,996. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Alaska license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Bethel Census Area
- Bethel Census Area housing compared with Alaska
- Income in Bethel Census Area compared with Alaska
- The Bethel Census Area job picture
- Counties near Bethel Census Area
- Towns and communities in Bethel Census Area
- What a median Bethel Census Area budget can carry
- Who lives in Bethel Census Area, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Bethel Census Area
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Alaska
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bethel Census Area
With an estimated 18,394 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bethel Census Area ranks 6th of 30 in Alaska for population. Land area is 40,661 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 0 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Bethel Census Area is not part of any metropolitan area. Bethel is the biggest of its 35 Census places, at roughly 6,312 people (34% of the county total).
Bethel Census Area housing compared with Alaska
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,474 in Bethel Census Area versus $1,419 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 23% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,100, about 2.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. The median year built is 1988.
| Housing | Bethel Census Area | Alaska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,474/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,100 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 23% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 29% | n/a |
Income in Bethel Census Area compared with Alaska
At $73,996, the typical Bethel Census Area household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 22nd among Alaska's 30 county-level areas.
| Household income | Bethel Census Area | vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +9.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.4% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.3% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Bethel Census Area households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 25.6%, 15 points higher than the state's 10.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. A household earning below the $73,996 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Bethel Census Area job picture
The biggest employer of Bethel Census Area residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by public administration (26%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 26% locally and 12% for Alaska. The survey's unemployment rate for Bethel Census Area averages 15.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 1% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Bethel Census Area workers | vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Public administration | 25.8% | +13.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Other services | 4.4% | -0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Bethel Census Area
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (116 to 295 miles). Income ranges from $51,471 in Kusilvak Census Area to $95,625 in Bristol Bay Borough; 4 of these neighbors top Bethel Census Area's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Census Area | - | $73,996 | $1,474/mo | 62% |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 116 mi | $78,533 | $1,105/mo | 61% |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 137 mi | $51,471 | $833/mo | 70% |
| Bristol Bay Borough, AK | 187 mi | $95,625 | $1,317/mo | 54% |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 235 mi | $65,625 | $936/mo | 65% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 268 mi | $80,538 | $1,184/mo | 77% |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 295 mi | $78,681 | $1,394/mo | 67% |
Towns and communities in Bethel Census Area
35 Census places fall mainly inside Bethel Census Area; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 18,198 residents, leaving about 1% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $27,143 in Napakiak to $117,255 in Bethel. Median rent ranges from $553 in Kwigillingok to $1,708 in Napakiak. This guide covers each of the 35 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel | city | 6,312 | $117,255 | $1,678 | 56 mi |
| Quinhagak | city | 1,311 | $50,208 | $869 | 101 mi |
| Kwethluk | city | 975 | $51,917 | $725 | 44 mi |
| Toksook Bay | city | 833 | $57,083 | $750 | 170 mi |
| Akiachak | CDP | 736 | $30,000 | $708 | 42 mi |
| Kipnuk | CDP | 706 | $45,250 | $838 | 151 mi |
| Kasigluk | CDP | 698 | $60,833 | $719 | 80 mi |
| Chefornak | city | 620 | $51,818 | $825 | 149 mi |
| Nunapitchuk | city | 618 | $43,438 | $1,303 | 78 mi |
| Aniak | city | 585 | $93,542 | $1,313 | 49 mi |
| Napakiak | city | 556 | $27,143 | $1,708 | 64 mi |
| Kwigillingok | CDP | 545 | $56,250 | $553 | 126 mi |
| Tuntutuliak | CDP | 514 | $44,583 | n/a | 92 mi |
| Napaskiak | city | 447 | $55,000 | $1,268 | 56 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Bethel Census Area budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bethel Census Area household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,166 a month: gross income for a household at the Bethel Census Area median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,474 uses 24%
- Under a 36% cap, $2,220 total minus rent leaves $746
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Bethel Census Area, in numbers
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Bethel Census Area | Alaska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.0 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.8% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 57.7% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.6% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 15.9% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bethel Census Area |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 88.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 7.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 2.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.7% |
| 60+ min | 0.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Bethel Census Area
Where the Bethel Census Area numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Bethel Census Area. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 26% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Before you sign
Quick steps for Bethel Census Area:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Alaska borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Alaska
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bethel Census Area borrowers answers to the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Alaska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alaska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Bethel Census Area household make?
About $73,996 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Alaska median.
How much is rent in Bethel Census Area?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,474 a month; 23% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Bethel Census Area?
By population: Bethel, Quinhagak, Kwethluk, Toksook Bay, Akiachak. The county has 35 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bethel Census Area or elsewhere in Alaska, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bethel Census Area residents?
The Alaska Division of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Alaska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.