Bethel Census Area, Alaska Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Bethel Census Area, Alaska, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. The estimated population of Bethel Census Area, Alaska is 18,514 people, with a median age of 28.6.

We can look at the total population in Bethel Census Area over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
18,514
+1.37%
+3.10%
2020
18,263
+0.71%
-
2019
18,134
+0.52%
-
2018
18,040
+0.46%
-
2017
17,957
 - -

Population of Bethel Census Area, Alaska by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
9.2%
10.2%
 -9.80%
Black/African American
0.9%
0.7%
 +28.57%
Native
83.3%
82%
 +1.59%
Hispanic
2.1%
2.2%
 -4.55%
Asian
1.4%
0.9%
 +55.56%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.2%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.9%
4%
 -27.50%
Other
0%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Bethel Census Area, Alaska by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 28.6 +1.78% 28.4 +2.53% 28.8 +0.7%
2020 28.1 +2.93% 27.7 0% 28.6 +6.72%
2019 27.3 +0.74% 27.7 +0.36% 26.8 +1.13%
2018 27.1 +0.74% 27.6 +0.73% 26.5 +0.38%
2017 26.9 - 27.4 - 26.4 -

The median age of Bethel Census Area, Alaska gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,863 +10.16% 1,840 -3.43% 2,049 1,776
10 to 19 1,766 -5.31% 1,489 +11.76% 1,665 1,671
20 to 29 1,498 -4.43% 1,394 -1.69% 1,431 1,370
30 to 39 1,160 +15.4% 1,086 +0.59% 1,346 1,091
40 to 49 1,022 -9.37% 833 +6.71% 925 889
50 to 59 1,061 -0.68% 863 +2.66% 1,052 884
60 to 69 742 +18.8% 580 +20.84% 890 709
70+ 323 +13.5% 437 -8.07% 366 400

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Bethel Census Area, Alaska is $57,460.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Bethel Census Area.

  • Under 25
    $36,518.00
  • 25 to 44
    $65,192.00
  • 45 to 64
    $56,892.00
  • 65 and over
    $47,500.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Bethel Census Area, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Bethel Census Area, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Bethel Census Area, Alaska is currently $78,343.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

5.82% of households in Bethel Census Area are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Bethel Census Area against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    23.10%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    20.73%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    15.15%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.13%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    15.91%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    8.16%
  • $200,000 or more
    5.82%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Bethel Census Area is $22,295.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Bethel Census Area by the total population of Bethel Census Area.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Bethel Census Area to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.58%
  • Bachelor's degree
    12.94%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.14%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    67.44%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.90%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Bethel Census Area that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Bethel Census Area over the age of 16 is 12,625.

Of those people, a total of 62.70% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Bethel Census Area is 51.10%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,272 22.50% 39.10%
20 to 24 years 1,328 67.60% 21.30%
25 to 29 years 1,473 76.20% 15.40%
30 to 34 years 1,298 73.00% 27.50%
35 to 44 years 2,035 76.00% 19.30%
45 to 54 years 1,867 81.00% 15.30%
55 to 59 years 987 74.20% 10.90%
60 to 64 years 981 55.50% 15.40%
65 to 74 years 985 30.30% 1.70%
75 years and over 399 6.50% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Bethel Census Area. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 1,448 90.00% 1.30%
Black or African American 170 89.40% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 10,312 57.40% 22.80%
Asian 240 81.30% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 42 97.60% 0.00%
Other 43 100.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 370 71.10% 23.60%
Hispanic or Latino 232 82.80% 3.10%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,427 89.80% 1.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Bethel Census Area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Bethel Census Area is 6,454, with median earnings of $36,444.00.

Women in Bethel Census Area, Alaska earning approximately 100.80% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 6,454 $36,444.00
Male 3,276 $36,328.00
Female 3,178 $36,605.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 652 $66,538.00
Business and Financial 166 $59,250.00
Computer and Mathematical 31 $34,375.00
Architecture and Engineering 20 $17,500.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 53 $95,288.00
Community and Social Service 270 $53,333.00
Legal 32 $133,750.00
Educational and Library 569 $48,125.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 79 $53,229.00
Healthcare Practitioners 351 $77,014.00
Healthcare Support 226 $35,781.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 74 $45,417.00
Law Enforcement 141 $55,679.00
Food Preparation and Serving 251 $15,489.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 427 $12,607.00
Personal Care and Service 207 $7,969.00
Sales 353 $16,776.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,219 $43,143.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 27 $20,729.00
Construction and Extraction 270 $34,583.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 180 $41,667.00
Production 275 $10,268.00
Transportation and Material Moving 319 $55,208.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 319 $72,813.00 333 $65,096.00
Business and Financial 58 $79,000.00 108 $58,333.00
Computer and Mathematical 31 $34,375.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 14 $9,167.00 6 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 35 $97,019.00 18 $0.00
Community and Social Service 109 $61,917.00 161 $44,063.00
Legal 18 $0.00 14 $85,556.00
Educational and Library 149 $63,011.00 420 $39,500.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 43 $25,625.00 36 $62,500.00
Healthcare Practitioners 110 $93,333.00 241 $46,563.00
Healthcare Support 59 $35,875.00 167 $35,625.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 47 $46,771.00 27 $10,694.00
Law Enforcement 122 $56,033.00 19 $7,292.00
Food Preparation and Serving 85 $9,088.00 166 $16,957.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 348 $13,030.00 79 $9,125.00
Personal Care and Service 38 $10,714.00 169 $6,406.00
Sales 182 $30,577.00 171 $9,871.00
Office and Administrative Support 339 $36,722.00 880 $51,250.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 24 $21,042.00 3 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 262 $34,583.00 8 $28,750.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 180 $41,667.00 0 $0.00
Production 175 $20,795.00 100 $5,465.00
Transportation and Material Moving 298 $70,071.00 21 $27,917.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 4,520 households in Bethel Census Area, with an average household size of 3.88 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 3,373 families in Bethel Census Area with an average family size of 4.6 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,010 450 913 1,147
Average Household Size 5.04 4.34 4.37 1.26
Total Families 2,010 450 913 0
Average Household Size 4.98 3.84 4.13 0

Poverty

Of the 3,373 families in Bethel Census Area, 24.30% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Bethel Census Area:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 5,992 housing units in Bethel Census Area, Alaska.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,520 75.43%
Vacant 1,472 24.57%

24.68% of the total 5,992 housing units in Bethel Census Area are rental units. This is approximately 1,479 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 2,591 are occupied by the owner - or 43.24% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Bethel Census Area is $1,402.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Bethel Census Area that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    450
  • Less than $500
    154
  • $500 to $999
    203
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    494
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    365
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    251
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    12
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Bethel Census Area is $102,300.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Bethel Census Area that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    834
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    447
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    205
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    186
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    399
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    457
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    54
  • $1,000,000 or more
    9

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Bethel Census Area. The chart below shows the number of properties in Bethel Census Area that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    23
  • 1940 to 1949
    44
  • 1950 to 1959
    47
  • 1960 to 1969
    350
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,337
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,573
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,228
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,087
  • 2010 to 2013
    300
  • 2014 or later
    3

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Bethel Census Area that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    2,718
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,080
  • 2 vehicles available
    525
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    197

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Bethel Census Area get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Bethel Census Area that commute to work in a particular way.

7.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Bethel Census Area.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    1,721
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    2,448
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,118
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    256
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    165
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    71
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    105
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    6
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    13
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    45
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    11
  • 90 or more minutes
    0

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Bethel Census Area, Alaska in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Bethel Census Area, Alaska

We have data for 36 places in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.