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Bethel, AK

Photo: Wikipedia

Bethel, AK

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Demographics

Very DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 97
Population6,313
Foreign Born1.5%
Population Density140people per mi²
Median Age30.9 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

136/100

36% above national average

B

The Real Cost of Living in Bethel, Alaska

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $26k$50k
Comfortable $69k$101k
Luxury $143k+$221k+
Elite (Top 5%) $168k+$260k+
Affordability Ratio

108%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean82%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
5
Positive
7
Poor
0
Negative
3

Groceries

4 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.5mi

Airport

Bethel Seaplane Base

0.4mi

Post Office

USPS — Bethel, AK

1mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf0 
Camping20Nearest 55 mi
Marina1Nearest 1.1 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 357 mi
Gun Range1Nearest 3 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$110k+8.8%
46% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$444k
32% below US avg
College Educated
20.1%
43% below US avg
WFH
9.2%
36% below US avg
Homeownership
44.2%
32% below US avg
Median Home
$354k
26% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 61% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
19.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−0.6%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−11.2%
Homicide
0.16 / 1k Residents159% above state avg
Robbery
0.47 / 1k Residents44% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
7.89 / 1k Residents52% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+10.1%
Burglary
1.42 / 1k Residents43% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
5.21 / 1k Residents62% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.74 / 1k Residents38% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+6Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Bethel, Alaska
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
A-
High Autonomy

Strong independent fundamentals that actively favor personal liberty and low regulation.

State Policy

Tax Burden
A+
Great4.6% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Net exporter (350% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season143 days175 frost-free
Annual Rainfall29.7"
Elevation39 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
A-
Resilient

Strong survivability profile. Good buffer from population centers, with manageable environmental and tactical risks.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great3751 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
B-
Fair140/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
B-
FairCold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 1529 mi · coast 1513 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$8.3M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityAnchorage291k people are 398 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital966 miJuneau, AK
Nearest Prison0.8 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T19:15:28.000Z

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