Population
18,391
2025
−1.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Bethel Census Area, AK: population growth, jobs and income
Bethel Census Area gained 26 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Bethel Census Area had an estimated 18,391 residents in 2025, down 1.5% (281 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Alaska as a whole (+0.6%), and the 14th fastest growth of 28 counties in Alaska.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Bethel Census Area report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Bethel Census Area, ranked against Alaska and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,474/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes19.7%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months42025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−229
2025
−12.5 per 1,000 residents
−1,683 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
12.0%
2025
+0.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
8
2025
0.4 per 1,000 residents
Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$73,996
2020–24
+36.0% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
2,523
2023
−14.8% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 229 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 2,523 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −14.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 12.0% in 2025, 0.1 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 8 new homes in 2025, or 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $73,996 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +36.0% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,336th.
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Bethel Census Area population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18,391 | +26 |
| 2024 | 18,365 | +117 |
| 2023 | 18,248 | −7 |
| 2022 | 18,255 | −334 |
| 2021 | 18,589 | −83 |
| 2020 | 18,672 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Bethel Census Area
Bethel Census Area lost 281 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−1,683).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +247 | +1,228 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +8 | +153 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −229 | −1,683 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | +21 | |
| Total change | +26 | −281 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Alaska | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 14th of 28 | 2,336th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 22nd of 28 | 2,947th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 23rd of 26 | 2,958th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 20th of 28 | 908th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 27th of 28 | 3,102nd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 16th of 23 | 2,463rd of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Bethel Census Area, AK as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Kenai Peninsula Borough reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Bethel Census Area's population change (−1.5%) was ahead of 4 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Kenai Peninsula Borough and Matanuska-Susitna Borough).
3 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Bethel Census Area's $73,996 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Census Area, AK This county | 18,391 | −1.5% | −12.5 | 0.4 | $73,996 |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 7,932 | −5.2% | −21.3 | – | $51,471 |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 4,483 | −7.4% | −29.0 | 0.0 | $78,533 |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 1,357 | −6.2% | 24.3 | – | $65,625 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK | 5,028 | −5.1% | −11.7 | 0.0 | $55,741 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 61,951 | +5.1% | 6.0 | 3.6 | $80,538 |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 118,666 | +10.4% | 7.4 | 0.7 | $94,031 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Bethel Census Area growing?
No. Its population fell 1.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 281 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Alaska as a whole changed +0.6% over the same years. That ranks 14th of 28 counties in Alaska for population growth.
How many people moved to Bethel Census Area?
On net, none in 2025: about 229 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Bethel Census Area?
It averaged 12.0% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Bethel Census Area?
About 18,391 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Bethel Census Area?
Private employers there had 2,523 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −14.8% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Alaska
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Alaska county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Bethel Census Area data alerts
Email me when Bethel Census Area gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.