City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Bethel Island, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bethel Island - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,144
Residents
$78,393
Median income
$549,500
Median home
$2,912
Median rent (state)

Bethel Island - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Bethel Island places in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
87th
percentile, home value
97th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bethel Island, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,144 residents in Bethel Island, a small town within California. Median household income here is $78,393 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 31.3%. Typical homes in Bethel Island are valued around $549,500, and the median resident age is 54.5 years. About 21.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 31.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,912 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

2,144 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$78,393 /yr

Poverty 31.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Bethel Island compare to other US cities?

Here's how Bethel Island stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 87% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bethel Island against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Bethel Island's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,450 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bethel Island ranks #74 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bethel Island only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#801 of 1,338
40th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#352 of 1,458
71st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#646 of 1,343
52nd percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#74 of 1,450
95th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#841 of 1,458
42nd percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bethel Island's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$549,500 13th percentile more affordable than 13% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bethel Island $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bethel Island, CA Bethel Island, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bethel Island, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bethel Island, CA median $78,393/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bethel Island, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bethel Island, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 31.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 31.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,144
Median Income
$78,393
Median Home Value
$549,500
Median Age
54.5
Poverty Rate
31.3%
Labor force participation
31.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.4%
Carpool
16.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
10.1%

Based on 586 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bethel Island sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,912/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Caruthers
2,143 people
Calwa
2,140 people
Richgrove
2,136 people
Penngrove
2,123 people
San Juan Bautista
2,120 people
Redwood Valley
2,117 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethel Island's 2,144 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Merrionette Park, IL
2,144 people
Slater, MO
2,144 people
Crompond, NY
2,144 people
Coal Grove, OH
2,144 people
West Rutland, VT
2,144 people
Adams, WI
2,144 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethel Island's $78,393 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brady, NE
$78,393 median income
Buena, NJ
$78,393 median income
Tumalo, OR
$78,393 median income
Greenwich, NY
$78,398 median income
Blue Valley, CO
$78,387 median income
Parkville, MD
$78,405 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bethel Island, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bethel Island, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.3% 6.8% 20.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 25.4% White 67.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 6.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 1.7% Some other race 20.9% Two or more races 3.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bethel Island compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bethel Island (this city) 2,144 $78,393
Caruthers 2,143 $64,722
Calwa 2,140 $63,232
Richgrove 2,136 $54,091
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bethel Island, CA?

What is the population of Bethel Island, CA? +

The population of Bethel Island, CA stands at 2,144 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bethel Island, CA? +

In Bethel Island, the typical household earns $78,393 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bethel Island? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bethel Island; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bethel Island, CA? +

Bethel Island's median home value sits at $549,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.