Bethel, AK
Census place 0206520 · pop 6,312
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
10.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
1656 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
21.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
47.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-2.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2309 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
11.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
24.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$360,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
11.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
25.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
33.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
95.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$117,255 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.36 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
17/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
10 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Bethel: Air, Prop tax, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Bethel, AK a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Bethel scores 41/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is unemployment rate. Alaska overall ranks #25 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Bethel, AK?
- Bethel reports 1656 violent crimes per 100k and 2309 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Bethel, AK expensive to live in?
- Bethel has a median home value of $360,200 — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Bethel, AK?
- Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (10.4%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Bethel, AK best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (10 min) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.