Home Insurance in Bethel Census Area, Alaska
With a median home value of $168,100, Bethel Census Area is 52% lower than the Alaska median.
The typical home in Bethel Census Area was built around 1988. About 3% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points below Alaska's 8%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
In Bethel Census Area, the housing stock is 82% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 32% of owner-occupied homes in Bethel Census Area have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
Bethel Census Area has an owner-occupancy rate of 62% and a vacancy rate of 20%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
In Bethel Census Area, 90% of homes are primarily heated with fuel oil. Homes heated with fuel oil and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Bethel Census Area, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are winter weather (Relatively High), wildfire (Relatively Low) and earthquake (Very Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Bethel Census Area had 112 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Alaska is $1,216 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $168,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1988 |
| Owner-occupied share | 62% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 32% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Relatively High), Wildfire (Relatively Low), Earthquake (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 112 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,216 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Aniak
- Bethel
- Chefornak
- Chuathbaluk
- Eek
- Goodnews Bay
- Kwethluk
- Lower Kalskag
- Mekoryuk
- Napakiak
- Napaskiak
- Nightmute
- Nunapitchuk
- Quinhagak
- Toksook Bay
Smaller communities
-
Akiak
- Median year built: 1986
- Owner-occupied share: 70%
- Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage: 18%
-
Platinum
- Median year built: 1981
- Owner-occupied share: 75%
- Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage: 44%
-
Upper Kalskag
- Median home value: $241,700
- Median year built: 1993
- Owner-occupied share: 67%
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)