Bethel Census Area, Alaska Income Statistics
Bethel Census Area Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Bethel Census Area Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in Alaska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bethel Census Area | Alaska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,309 | $93,666 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,652 | $68,716 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 2.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.7% | 16.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.3% | 14.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bethel Census Area is about 22% lower than in Alaska. Income has been growing faster in Bethel Census Area (4.1%/yr) than in Alaska (2.9%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Bethel Census Area earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Alaska average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bethel Census Area, Alaska grew by 36.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,309 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bethel Census Area
| Metric | Bethel Census Area | Alaska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.610 | 0.527 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,219 | $76,032 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $69,663 | $65,882 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 0.8% | 13.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bethel Census Area, it is 0.610, higher than Alaska's 0.527, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 1% more than women's income in Bethel Census Area, Alaska.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bethel Census Area, Alaska has narrowed from about -5% to 1% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2014, and in 2023 women out-earned men by 16%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,775 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Bethel Census Area widened by 5.5 points while Alaska's narrowed by 9.9 points.
Employment
| Metric | Bethel Census Area | Alaska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 15.8% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.1% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 6 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 1,240 people are unemployed in Bethel Census Area, Alaska.
The average commute time in Bethel Census Area is 6 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Alaska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bethel Census Area, Alaska has fallen from 16.7% to 15.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 19.3% in 2017 and fell as low as 14.0% in 2023.
Bethel Census Area, AK Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Bethel Census Area, AK is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 18,392 residents against a local median of 4,728. Where Bethel Census Area, AK breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 50% above the local median of 10.5% at 15.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 15.5% on unemployment, so Bethel Census Area, AK sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Bethel Census Area, AK has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 18,392 | $73,309 #4/6 | 4.1%/yr #4/6 | 15.8% #4/6 | 0.610 #6/6 |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 4,728 | $77,852 | 4.3%/yr | 10.5% | 0.565 |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 8,176 | $51,163 | 3.8%/yr | 19.7% | 0.597 |
| Bristol Bay Borough, AK | 875 | $93,494 | 1.6%/yr | 4.3% | 0.483 |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 1,056 | $64,886 | 5.1%/yr | 8.4% | 0.522 |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 9,860 | $78,459 | 5.4%/yr | 16.7% | 0.599 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bethel Census Area, Alaska has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Alaska, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bethel Census Area, Alaska.
How Rich Is Bethel Census Area, Alaska?
Bethel Census Area has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $73,309, about 22% lower than the Alaska average of $93,666.
How fast is household income rising in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bethel Census Area, Alaska rose 37%, from $53,618 to $73,309. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alaska as a whole: +37% against +43%.
What was the median household income in Bethel Census Area in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bethel Census Area, Alaska was $69,755, up 8% from $64,463 in 2022. The Alaska median that year was $90,366.
What was the median household income in Bethel Census Area in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bethel Census Area, Alaska was $55,822. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $73,309.
Is unemployment high in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?
Unemployment in Bethel Census Area, Alaska is 15.8%, well above the Alaska rate of 5.5%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?
The Gini coefficient in Bethel Census Area is 0.610. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bethel Census Area, Alaska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bethel Census Area, Alaska has narrowed from about -5% to 1% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2014, and in 2023 women out-earned men by 16%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,775 since 2009.
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