Cost of Living in Bethel Census Area, Alaska
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Bethel Census Area Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Bethel Census Area ranks #1,712 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 46%)
Sourced county brief
Median Monthly Owner Costs in Bethel Census Area at $595
The median selected monthly owner cost in the Bethel Census Area was $595, which is $403 below the Alaska unweighted county mean of $998. The median home value in the area was estimated at $168,100, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $283,493. For renter-occupied units, the median gross rent was $1,474 per month. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 18.0%. This official figure is 5.0 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 23.0%. The median renter-household income was $73,438. These data points provide a statistical overview of the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates for the region. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Bethel Census Area
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 18.0% of renter household income in Bethel Census Area, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,474 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $595. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $58,960 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Alaska unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,248 per month. Bethel Census Area's $1,474 median is 18.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Bethel Census Area
Rent Burden
23.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,727
per month
Owner Cost Burden
9.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Bethel Census Area
Median home value is $168,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,342 vs. your max of $1,727.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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