Bethel Census Area Area Home Supply Charts

This page looks at a variety of Bethel Census Area Alaska housing market data taken from the most recent 2022 American Community Survey census data. Housing units are structures such as a single family home, apartment community, mobile home park, public housing, etc. where a person or family live and live separately from other residents of the building. Figure 1 shows the total number of housing units for each city. Bethel Census Area depicts it has a Housing Units of 5,992 which is the second most housing units of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region.

Figure 2 illustrates the housing density in the Bethel Census Area housing market as measured by housing units per square land mile (includes single family homes, apartments, etc.) Bethel Census Area shows it has a Housing Density of 0.1 which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest housing density in the area is Kenai Peninsula Borough which depicts a density of 2.0 ( very much bigger). Comparing housing density to the United States average of 39.5, Bethel Census Area is only about 0.4% the size. Also, compared to the state of Alaska, housing density of 0.6, Bethel Census Area is approximately a quarter the size.

In Figure 4, Bethel Census Area area change in the number of housing units and is a forward gauge (along with population change) for any potential housing shortage. Bethel Census Area shows it has a Housing Unit Change of 1.2% which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest change in the housing units in the area is Kenai Peninsula Borough which depicts a housing units of 6.0% (approximately 4.8 times bigger). Comparing change in the housing units to the United States average of 7.4%, Bethel Census Area is approximately a sixth the size. Also, compared with the state of Alaska, change in the housing units of 5.7%, Bethel Census Area is approximately a fifth the size.

Figure 5 shows the percentage of rental property based on that they are occupied by renters as a percent of the total number of households in the community (including homes, apartments, etc.) Bethel Census Area depicts it has a Renter Percent of 42.7% which is the second most renter percent of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region. Figure 6 illustrates the total number of housing units that are occupied by owners. it has a Owner Percent of 57.3% which is the second smallest when ranked by owner percent of all the other counties in the metropolitan area.

Bethel Census Area Home Cost Charts

Looking at the housing data provided in Figure 7, the average Bethel Census Area home price is illustrated for this community and a useful analysis of affordable housing. Bethel Census Area depicts it has a Median Home Value of $102,300 which is the second smallest as measured by median home price of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median home price in the area is Kenai Peninsula Borough which depicts a home price of $249,100 (approximately 2.4 times bigger). Figure 8 provides aggregate comparative data for the Bethel Census Area Alaska metro area in terms of the median housing rental rate, apartment rent, etc. Bethel Census Area shows it has a Median Gross Rent of $1,402 which is the most of all counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region. Comparing rental rates to the United States average of $1,163, Bethel Census Area is 20.6% larger. Also, benchmarked against the state of Alaska, rental rates of $1,279, Bethel Census Area is 9.6% larger.

Figure 9 provides the frequency distribution of home prices for the area and is useful for understanding affordable housing fund. Bethel Census Area has the smallest proportion of home price worth between $50,000 to $100,000 at 15% of the total.

Median owner costs for the real estate market are shown in Figure 10 and include the costs associated with any mortgage, utility expenses, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs. Bethel Census Area depicts it has a Median Owner Cost of $498 which is less than most other counties in the surrounding region. Figure 11 shows the median amount of cost as a percent of total household income for people who own homes in the Bethel Census Area metro area. it has a Owner Cost as % of HH Income of 14% which is less than most other counties in the greater region.

The next chart, Figure 12, provides a comparison chart of the median home cost as a percent of a median worker take home earnings and is thus a valuable measure of affordable housing. Bethel Census Area shows it has a Median Home Value as Percent of Median Earnings of 176% which is the second smallest when sorted by median home value as a percent of median worker earnings of all the other counties in the metropolitan area.

Figure 14 depicts the median cost of housing for owners with also have a mortgages (versus those who do not have a mortgage because mortgage cost is included.) Bethel Census Area shows it has a Median Owner Costs-With Mortgage of $1,720 which is the third most median housing cost of all other counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region. Figure 15 is a chart that shows the median housing costs for owners who do not have mortgages (and therefore the cost of home ownership does not include mortgage cost.) it has a Median Owner Costs-Without Mortgage of $394 which is the second smallest in order of median housing cost of all the other counties in the local area.

Figure 16 shows the distribution in total housing cost for owners of property (so not renters.) This cost includes mortgages, lines of credit interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc. Bethel Census Area has one of the largest proportions of owner cost less than $300 at 24% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Lake and Peninsula Borough (30%), and #1 Kusilvak Census Area (40%) are larger.

Next shown in Figure 17 is the housing cost as a percent of household income for people who own their homes and have a mortgages (thus the cost of financing the home is included.) Bethel Census Area depicts it has a % of Income Owner Costs-With Mortgage of 18% which is the third most of all other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is Kenai Peninsula Borough which shows a cost as a percent of household income of 22% (19.4% larger). Housing cost as a percent of household income for owners who do not have a mortgage is shown in Figure 18. This analysis can be useful for understanding the affordable housing for home ownership excluding any financing cost in the area shown. Bethel Census Area shows it has a % of Income Owner Costs-No Mortgage of 11% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is Kusilvak Census Area which depicts a cost as a percent of household income of 14% (26.4% larger).

Figure 19 looks at the cost of rent for rental property using the percent of total household income which is a valuable measure of financial health for the area. (The higher the proportion of rent payments to total household income is a sign of greater financial stress. Also, rent can be covered by rent assistance and rent assistance programs in the form of rent assistance.) Bethel Census Area has the largest proportion of rent as a percent of income is less than 10 pct at 25% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of rent as a percent of income is between 40pct to 50pct at 12% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Kenai Peninsula Borough with 19%.

Figure 20 shows the total housing cost for both home owners and apartment community renters in the area. Bethel Census Area has the smallest proportion of housing cost between $300 and $500 at 11% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of housing cost between $500 and $700 at 9% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of housing cost between $1,500 and $2,000 at 9% of the total and is ranked #1.



Figure 23 shows the rental rate distribution for this area. Bethel Census Area Alaska has the smallest proportion of rent between 300 and 500 dollars at 7% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of rent between 500 and 750 dollars at 4% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of rent between 1000 and 1500 dollars at 32% of the total and is ranked #1.

Bethel Census Area Home Characteristics Charts

Figure 28 shows the household size for families living in the area and it has a Family size of 4.8 which is the second most family members per housing unit of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region. The county with the highest family members per housing unit in the area is Kusilvak Census Area which depicts a family members per housing unit of 5.1 (6.3% larger). Comparing family members per housing unit to the United States average of 3.3, Bethel Census Area is 44.4% larger. Also, compared with the state of Alaska, family members per housing unit of 3.5, Bethel Census Area is 38.0% larger.

Figure 29 show the median number of rooms in a typical home for each location in this area. it has a Median Number of Rooms of 3.8 which is in the center range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average number of rooms in a house in the area is Kenai Peninsula Borough which shows an average number of rooms in a house of 4.6 (21.1% larger). Figure 30 shows, for the average house in each location, the median year that a house was built. This can be useful for understanding the relative age of one neighborhood versus another for a real estate investor. it has a Median Year Built of 1988 which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region.

Figure 31 looks at the distribution of housing units by the median age that the homes were built. it has one of the largest proportions of homes built in 2020 or later at 5% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Kusilvak Census Area (6%), and #1 Kenai Peninsula Borough (7%) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of homes built between 2010 to 2019 at 18% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Kenai Peninsula Borough with 22%. Third, it has the smallest proportion of homes built between 1960 to 1969 at 1% of the total. Also, it has the second smallest in order of homes built in 2020 or later of all the other counties in the greater region as measured by homes built between 1940 to 1949 at 0% of the total.

Figure 32 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners versus occupied by renters. it has one of the largest proportions of owner housing units at 1,929 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Kenai Peninsula Borough with 5,349.

Figure 33 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners or renters. it has the largest proportion of 10 to 19 units at 3% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 34 shows the median value of homes broken down by the median year that the homes were built. it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 2020 or later at $129,200 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Nome Census Area ($281,300), and #1 Kenai Peninsula Borough ($283,200) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 2010 to 2019 at $230,300 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Kenai Peninsula Borough with $270,300. Third, it has in the mid range of other counties in the greater region in terms of value of homes built 2000 to 2009 at $170,500 of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the greater region in order of value of homes built 1990 to 1999 at $96,100 of the total. In addition, it has the second smallest when sorted by value of homes built 2020 or later of all the other counties in the local area when sorted by value of homes built 1980 to 1989 at $51,900 of the total. Furthermore, it has less than most other counties in the metro area in order of value of homes built 1970 to 1979 at $60,000 of the total. Next it has in the middle range of other counties in the local area in order of value of homes built 1950 to 1959 at $9,999 of the total.

Figure 35 compares the total number of occupied housing units to vacant housing units. This analysis can be used to understand any housing shortage in the community. has the percentage of occupied housing units the second smallest in order of occupied housing units of all the other counties in the area at 25% of the total.

The next two charts show both the average household size of homeowners versus the average household size of renters. Starting with Figure 36 we see the household size of homeowners for Bethel Census Area residents. it has a Owner-Household Size of 4.4 which is the second most homeowner household size of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region. The county with the highest homeowner household size in the area is Kusilvak Census Area which depicts a homeowner household size of 4.5 (only about 4.4% larger).

Figure 37 shows the household size for renters. Bethel Census Area shows it has a Renter-Household Size of 3.2 which is the second most renter household sizes of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region. The county with the highest renter household size in the area is Kusilvak Census Area which depicts a renter household sizes of 4.1 (26.6% larger). Figure 38 shows the year that people who own homes moved into this region. has the percentage of owners moved in 2019 or later in the mid range of other counties in the greater region at 10% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of owners moved in 1990 to 1999 at 30% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Lake and Peninsula Borough (32%), and #1 Kusilvak Census Area (32%) are larger. Figure 39 shows the year that people who rent moved into the area. Bethel Census Area has one of the largest proportions of renters moved in 2019 or later at 46% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Dillingham Census Area with 61%.

Figure 40 compares the median year that home owners moved into their home. it has a Owner Median Year Moved In of 2001 which is the second most of all the counties in the greater region. Figure 41 compares the median year that renters moved into their home. Bethel Census Area depicts it has a Renter Median Year Moved In of 2016 which is the second most median year that a renter moved in of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region.

The next two charts show the number of people living in group quarters and includes temporary as well permanent housing which may be run by the Bethel Census Area housing department, Alaska department, or other housing authority or public housing agency. beginning with Figure 43 which shows the total number of people. Bethel Census Area depicts it has a Total In Group Quarters of 987 which is the second most number of people in group quarters of all the counties in the greater Bethel Census Area region.