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Buying a home in Bethel Island, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Bethel Island is worth about $682,700, 7% below the California median of $734,700 and 2.1 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,000 a year in property taxes, about 0.88% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $74,972 a year, so the median home costs 9.1 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 25% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Bethel Island at a glance

Bethel Island California U.S.
Median home value $682,700 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $6,000 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.88% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $74,972 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 64% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 25% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,090 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 41.3% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $1,606 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 51.0% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1973 1976 1980
Vacant homes 16.9% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 1,864 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Bethel Island

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bethel Island home of $682,700 with 20% down costs about $4,459 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,596, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $191,107 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 71% of the median Bethel Island household income of $74,972; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $268,000.

The median rent here is $1,606 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,853 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$136,540
Loan amount$546,160
Principal and interest$3,674
Property taxes (0.88% a year)$501
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$284
PMI$0
Total per month$4,459

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$23,894
Loan amount$670,335
Principal and interest$4,509
Property taxes (0.88% a year)$501
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$284
FHA mortgage insurance$302
Total per month$5,596

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Questions about home buying in Bethel Island

What is the median home value in Bethel Island?

About $682,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Bethel Island?

Homeowners pay a median $6,000 a year, which is about 0.88% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Bethel Island?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,459 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $191,107 a year.

More about Bethel Island

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data