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Living in
Bethany.
About
Life in Bethany
Life in Bethany is fundamentally shaped by being a bedroom community just ten miles west of downtown Oklahoma City—close enough for an easy commute (about 20 minutes on average), but far enough to feel like its own place with real affordability advantages. Housing costs here are genuinely accessible: median home values hover around $171,600 and median rent sits at $1,071 a month, which means your paycheck stretches further than it would in the urban core, especially if you land one of the stable jobs anchored by Southern Nazarene University, Southwestern Christian University, the school districts, or the medical and children's services sector. The job market is steady rather than explosive, with unemployment sitting at 3.2%, so it's not a town for startup culture or rapid career leaps, but it's predictable and reliable for people seeking stable work.
Bethany at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.5%
Foreign-Born
10.1%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bethany: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bethany, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (66.6%), and 20.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.8%
of households
Married Couples
43.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% above OK average
Rent, home values, and income in Bethany
In Bethany, rent runs 6% above the OK average, and home values are 14% below the OK average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,647
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $175,099 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OK
Unemployment in Bethany and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oklahoma County, which includes Bethany, is close to the OK average.
Unemployment rate
Bethany: Oklahoma County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Oklahoma County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Bethany is about 3% of Oklahoma County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Bethany Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Oklahoma City, OK metro area
Commute20.8 min avg
How Bethany residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bethany, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
OKC Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
Small hub2.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 42% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bethany runs 42% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
191.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,348.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bethany Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 51 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oklahoma County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oklahoma County, which includes Bethany, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 51 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | Hail | $8.1M |
| 2024 | 43 | Heat | $56.1M |
| 2023 | 55 | Hail | $2.5M |
| 2022 | 37 | Drought | $108,000 |
| 2021 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $162,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $24,000 |
| 2019 | 38 | Hail | $246,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $170,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
35 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oklahoma County, county-wide
Bethany is about 3% of Oklahoma County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oklahoma County, which includes Bethany, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
182
per year
Moderate Days
176
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Oklahoma County, county-wide
Bethany is about 3% of Oklahoma County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bethany has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.6"
Annual Snowfall
6.7"
Hot Days/Year
76
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
73
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
73
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 28°F | 0.78" |
| Feb | 55°F | 31°F | 0.98" |
| Mar | 64°F | 40°F | 2.04" |
| Apr | 72°F | 49°F | 3.00" |
| May | 80°F | 59°F | 4.26" |
| Jun | 89°F | 68°F | 4.83" |
| Jul | 95°F | 73°F | 2.88" |
| Aug | 94°F | 71°F | 3.49" |
| Sep | 85°F | 63°F | 3.00" |
| Oct | 74°F | 51°F | 2.72" |
| Nov | 62°F | 39°F | 1.47" |
| Dec | 51°F | 30°F | 1.27" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bethany
Bethany has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
15.2%
of residents
The Children's Center, Inc.
Childrens · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Integris Baptist Medical Center, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Oklahoma City
Integris Community Hospital - Council Crossing
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.1 mi away · Oklahoma City
Northwest Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Oklahoma City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bethany
Bethany's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bethany
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,455 students · in-state tuition $32,750 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,257 (10 yrs after entry)
Southwestern Christian University
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 377 students · in-state tuition $22,500 · 27% graduate · median earnings $40,962 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Central Oklahoma
14 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,170 students · in-state tuition $9,043 · 44% graduate · median earnings $51,263 (10 yrs after entry)
Oklahoma City Community College
9.2 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 9,758 students · in-state tuition $4,059 · 18% graduate · median earnings $41,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,953 students · in-state tuition $5,144 · 17% graduate · median earnings $41,703 (10 yrs after entry)
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,514 students · in-state tuition $3,853 · 23% graduate · median earnings $44,121 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,885 students · in-state tuition $28,200 · 58% graduate · median earnings $55,959 (10 yrs after entry)
Mid-America Christian University
11.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,666 students · in-state tuition $22,356 · 42% graduate · median earnings $46,785 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Oklahoma City National Memorial, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bethany
Bethany has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Oklahoma City National Memorial (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Oklahoma City National Memorial
National Memorial
7 mi awayChickasaw National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bethany
Bethany Library
7941 Nw 23rd, Bethany
Cities Near Bethany
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bethany?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bethany FAQ
Is Bethany, Oklahoma affordable?⌄
Bethany's median rent is $1,071/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,591/year. Median home value is $171,600.
Is Bethany, Oklahoma safe?⌄
Bethany's violent crime rate was 192 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1348 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bethany, Oklahoma?⌄
Oklahoma County, which includes Bethany, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bethany, Oklahoma?⌄
The cost of living in Bethany is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,071/month and median household income is $56,591/year. The median home value is $171,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bethany, Oklahoma?⌄
The average commute in Bethany is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from