Sign In Register

Bethel, DE

Full City Profile · Delaware · Wicomico County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
431 Population 980/sq mi density
$91,111 Median Income $40,920 per capita
$276,300 Home Value $349,728 Zillow
55°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
1,591 Violent Crime/100K 5,833 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$91,111 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$276,300 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,591 violent crimes/100K (319% above avg)
B+
Education
3.7 / 5.0
34.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Bethel experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.3 inches. The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average35°F (1°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation23 ft (7 m)
Area0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density980/sq mi
Coordinates38.5710°N, 75.6195°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyWicomico County County
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY)
17 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.3"
22% above US avg
Snowfall 12.8"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.11"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score60.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability26.9 / 100
Community Resilience76.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

9 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 9, 2023.

Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 105 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 120 km
Mar 15, 1993 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland M2.7 133 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 117 km
Jan 13, 1990 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland M2.6 145 km
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 125 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 149 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 77 km
Mar 10, 1993 3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland M2.5 132 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

10 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 2 215 km
2012 Sandy Category 1 213 km
2011 Irene Category 1 75 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 277 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 201 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 238 km
1993 Emily Category 3 235 km
1991 Bob Category 3 192 km
1986 Charley Category 1 135 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 99 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

192 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 101 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 21 km 1
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 62 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 90 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 18 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 56 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 60 km 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 3 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 77 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 47 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 89 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 97 km 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 51 km 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 26 km 0
Oct 13, 1983 EF2 86 km 0
Jul 21, 1983 EF2 67 km 2
Jun 27, 1978 EF2 92 km 0
Jun 9, 1977 EF2 53 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF2 77 km 0
Oct 2, 1973 EF2 98 km 0
Aug 27, 1971 EF2 71 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 141 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 39 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 45 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 43 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 41 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 37 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 37 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 43 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 42 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 43 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 37 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 38 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 38 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 36 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 37 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 45 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 45 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 46 km
2020 SPLIT DITCH 1,518 95 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 46 km
2014 RAILROAD 1,431 95 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 35°F (1°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 37°F (3°C) 3.1 in Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 4.3 in
April 54°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 64°F (18°C) 3.9 in
June 72°F (22°C) 3.5 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest, Wettest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.3 in
September 69°F (21°C) 3.8 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.3 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.2 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.5 in

Bethel has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").

View full weather details →