What are the schools like in Bethany, IL?

Bethany is served primarily by Okaw Valley CUSD 302. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.6:1.

What is the median household income in Bethany?

The median household income in Bethany, IL is $50,238 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

What is the weather like in Bethany, IL?

Bethany has an average high temperature of 35.3°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.1 inches.

Bethany, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bethany, IL affordable or expensive?

Bethany's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bethany is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $88,800 and the median rent is $725 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bethany, IL?

Bethany has a violent crime rate of 160.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 720.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bethany, IL a Good Place to Live?

Bethany is a small town of 1,227 in Illinois, with a median household income of $50,238 and a 0.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Bethany stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bethany is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bethany city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.1

Bethany's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bethany costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bethany, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$88,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,238	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bethany's violent crime rate is 160.1 per 100,000 residents — 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

160.1 /100k

Property Crime

720.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bethany is served primarily by Okaw Valley CUSD 302. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bethany, IL	National Avg
School District	Okaw Valley CUSD 302	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bethany sees average highs of 35.3°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 40.1 inches of annual precipitation and 15.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bethany, IL
Average High — January	35.3°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	40.1"
Annual Snowfall	15.1"

Demographics

Metric	Bethany, IL	National Avg
Population	1,227	—
Median Age	42.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.2%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dalton City, IL 6 mi Lovington, IL 8 mi Lake City, IL 8 mi Sullivan, IL 8 mi Findlay, IL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Bethany

Bethany, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61914

Bethany vs Other Cities

Bethany, IL vs Dalton City, IL Bethany, IL vs Lovington, IL Bethany, IL vs Lake City, IL Bethany, IL vs Sullivan, IL Bethany, IL vs Findlay, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethany, IL affordable or expensive?

Bethany's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bethany roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $88,800 and median rent is $725/month.

What is the crime rate in Bethany, IL?

Bethany's violent crime rate is 160.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 720.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bethany?

Public schools in Bethany are operated by Okaw Valley CUSD 302. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bethany, IL a good place to live?

Bethany, IL has a population of 1,227, a median household income of $50,238, and an unemployment rate of 0.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bethany?

Bethany averages 35.3°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.1 inches with about 15.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bethany?

Bethany, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61914.

What is the population of Bethany?

The population of Bethany, Illinois is 1,227 with a median age of 42.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bethany?

Key numbers for living in Bethany: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $88,800, median household income $50,238, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bethany side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.