What are the schools like in Bethany, MO?

Bethany is served primarily by SOUTH HARRISON CO. R-II. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.8:1.

What is the median household income in Bethany?

The median household income in Bethany, MO is $46,528 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Bethany, MO?

Bethany has an average high temperature of 34.0°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Bethany, MO affordable or expensive?

Bethany's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bethany is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $115,100 and the median rent is $609 per month.

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

Bethany has a violent crime rate of 204.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 512.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bethany, MO a Good Place to Live?

Bethany is a small town of 3,113 in Missouri, with a median household income of $46,528 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% 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: 88.2

Bethany's overall cost of living index is 88.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bethany costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bethany, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$115,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$609	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,528	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bethany's violent crime rate is 204.9 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

204.9 /100k

Property Crime

512.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Bethany is served primarily by SOUTH HARRISON CO. R-II. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bethany, MO	National Avg
School District	SOUTH HARRISON CO. R-II	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bethany sees average highs of 34.0°F in January and 86.6°F in July, with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation and 21.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bethany, MO
Average High — January	34.0°F
Average High — July	86.6°F
Annual Precipitation	39.1"
Annual Snowfall	21.2"

Demographics

Metric	Bethany, MO	National Avg
Population	3,113	—
Median Age	41.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	27.1%	22.2%
65 and over	24.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Hampton, MO 9 mi Ridgeway, MO 9 mi Coffey, MO 11 mi Gilman City, MO 13 mi Mount Moriah, MO 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Bethany

Bethany, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

64424

Bethany vs Other Cities

Bethany, MO vs New Hampton, MO Bethany, MO vs Ridgeway, MO Bethany, MO vs Coffey, MO Bethany, MO vs Gilman City, MO Bethany, MO vs Mount Moriah, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethany, MO affordable or expensive?

Bethany's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bethany roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $115,100 and median rent is $609/month.

What is the crime rate in Bethany, MO?

Bethany's violent crime rate is 204.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 512.3 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 SOUTH HARRISON CO. R-II. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1. 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bethany, MO a good place to live?

Bethany, MO has a population of 3,113, a median household income of $46,528, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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 34.0°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches with about 21.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bethany?

Bethany, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 64424.

What is the population of Bethany?

The population of Bethany, Missouri is 3,113 with a median age of 41.6. 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 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,100, median household income $46,528, crime index 42 (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.