How old are the homes in Bethel, AK?

Name: Age of homes in Bethel, AK, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

26.3% (±5.3 points) of the homes in Bethel, AK were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

1.2% were built before 1940.

12.6% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 26.3% (±5.3 points)
Built before 1940: 1.2%
Built 2010 or later: 12.6%

When the homes in Bethel were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Bethel	Bethel Census Area	Alaska	United States
2020 or later	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.3%	0.9%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	12.6% (±4.4 points)	10.4%	9.3%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	20.5% (±4.7 points)	18.7%	15.7%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	16.1% (±4.6 points)	16.0%	13.4%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	24.5% (±4.5 points)	25.8%	24.0%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	20.9% (±4.6 points)	20.8%	22.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	4.2% (±1.9 points)	5.4%	7.1%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.9%	4.4%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.7%	1.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	1.2% (±0.9 points)	0.8%	1.7%	11.7%

In Bethel, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Bethel Census Area (28.6%).

It is also lower than in Alaska (36.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (49.7%).

In Bethel Census Area, Bethel ranks 12 of 18 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 127 of 191.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (5.4%) and the share built before 1980 (26.3%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Bethel

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Bethel
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Bethel	—	26.3% (±5.3 points)	—
Napaskiak	6.4 mi	46.2% (±42.9 points)	Not measurably different
Napakiak	9.6 mi	35.2% (±20.9 points)	Not measurably different
Kwethluk	12 mi	35.2% (±13.9 points)	Not measurably different
Akiak	21 mi	27.2% (±36.1 points)	Not measurably different
Nunapitchuk	23 mi	23.5% (±24.6 points)	Not measurably different
Eek	41 mi	20.4% (±66.2 points)	Not measurably different
Lower Kalskag	69 mi	32.6% (±45.1 points)	Not measurably different
Russian Mission	70 mi	33.7% (±47.7 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Bethel Census Area, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
6	Mekoryuk	36.6% (±25.6 points)
7 (tie)	Kwethluk	35.2% (±13.9 points)
7 (tie)	Napakiak	35.2% (±20.9 points)
9	Lower Kalskag	32.6% (±45.1 points)
10	Chefornak	29.4% (±25.5 points)
11	Akiak	27.2% (±36.1 points)
12	Bethel	26.3% (±5.3 points)
13	Nunapitchuk	23.5% (±24.6 points)
14	Goodnews Bay	22.5% (±73.8 points)
15	Eek	20.4% (±66.2 points)
16	Aniak	16.9% (±11.0 points)
17	Upper Kalskag	11.0% (±37.7 points)
18	Chuathbaluk	10.9% (±67.1 points)

Showing 13 of 18 places in Bethel Census Area, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Bethel

How old are most homes in Bethel?

26.3% of homes in Bethel, AK were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Bethel need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 5.4% and 26.3% of homes in Bethel were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Bethel?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Bethel city, Alaska

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Bethel city, Alaska (place:06520, in state:02).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.