Population 378 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Bethel
Household size in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.03 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.93 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.26 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in West Bethel are small: just 1.93 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.19 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.9 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.2 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.3 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.5 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
West Bethel skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West Bethel: 5.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in West Bethel
Renters in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.9% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.3% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −14.9 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.0% of households in West Bethel rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 36.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.1% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 55.5% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 58.1% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.5% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 50.5% of the housing in West Bethel, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in West Bethel are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are newer than in Maine overall, where the median home dates to 1975.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $423 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $457 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $444 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $885 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$461 | +$464 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Bethel pays $885 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 29.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in West Bethel
Bachelor's degrees in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.8% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.0% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in West Bethel (34.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.9% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Bethel: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Maine.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in West Bethel
| Period | West Bethel | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Bethel runs well above the national rate: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
West Bethel compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bethel | 1.93 | 56.3 | 5.3% | 18.0% | 50.5% | 1980 | $885 | 34.0% | 95.9% | 7.8% |
| Mayville | 1.99 | 55.3 | 4.2% | 13.3% | 45.6% | 1982 | $859 | 38.3% | 96.4% | 7.8% |
| Bethel | 2.21 | 48.3 | 7.4% | 15.4% | 40.1% | 1985 | $879 | 38.6% | 95.6% | 5.0% |
| Gilead | 1.98 | 57.6 | 10.8% | 27.7% | 60.6% | 1985 | $1,025 | 24.2% | 95.7% | 3.4% |
| North Bethel | 2.20 | 57.1 | 6.3% | 14.9% | 71.3% | 1992 | $996 | 40.2% | 99.2% | 3.5% |
| Hunts Corner | 2.27 | 55.3 | 6.2% | 7.0% | 44.5% | 1988 | $1,076 | 29.8% | 95.6% | 2.7% |
| Locke Mills | 2.26 | 45.9 | 7.2% | 29.6% | 58.6% | 1981 | $1,247 | 20.1% | 93.0% | 0.2% |
| Hanover | 2.21 | 49.8 | 8.8% | 17.5% | 48.0% | 1990 | $887 | 41.5% | 97.7% | 3.3% |
| Lynchville | 2.24 | 54.5 | 5.8% | 9.4% | 51.2% | 1987 | $1,254 | 34.5% | 95.5% | 3.5% |
| Stoneham | 2.26 | 55.5 | 6.0% | 6.8% | 45.8% | 1989 | $1,124 | 31.8% | 95.7% | 3.1% |
| Newry | 2.05 | 62.2 | 5.0% | 12.1% | 82.4% | 1992 | $1,043 | 32.1% | 97.9% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Harrisville, OH · West Lima, WI · West Lubec, ME · Hoods Crossroads, AL · West Richfield, OH · West Spring Creek, PA · West Stayton, OR · Hidalgo, IL · Herndon, GA · Hedgesville, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up West Bethel. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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