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Living in
Bethany.
Bethany is an unincorporated community in Washington County, OR. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Bethany
Bethany is fundamentally a suburban bedroom community for Portland professionals—don't expect a distinct downtown identity or local character. What you're actually getting is a stable, affluent neighborhood within commuting distance of the city, where the median home price sits at $751,700 and most people work elsewhere. The community is genuinely diverse with a substantial Asian community (31.7% as of 2010 data) and strong family orientation, which shapes the social character: nearly two-thirds of households are married couples, and half have kids under 18.
Bethany at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Foreign-Born
35.1%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Median household income
Demographics35.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Bethany: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bethany, the largest foreign-born group is from India (38.1%), and 11.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
28.9%
of residents
65 and Older
8.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
50.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.7%
of households
Married Couples
67.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.82
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 47% above OR average
Rent, home values, and income in Bethany
In Bethany, rent runs 47% above the OR average, and home values are 57% above the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,060
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2004
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OR
Unemployment in Bethany and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Washington County, which includes Bethany, is close to the OR average.
Unemployment rate
Bethany: Washington County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Washington County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Bethany Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area
Commute23.9 min avg
How Bethany residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bethany, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 133 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M 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 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, which covers Bethany, runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
205.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
855
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Washington County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Bethany, the most common type is flood, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 5 | Frost/Freeze | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 4 | Flood | $14,000 |
| 2022 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Lightning | $106,000 |
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.
9 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, which includes Bethany, is typically good — 289 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
289
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Washington County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bethany has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.2"
Annual Snowfall
3.6"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
10
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 40°F | 5.51" |
| Feb | 54°F | 40°F | 4.29" |
| Mar | 58°F | 42°F | 4.06" |
| Apr | 63°F | 45°F | 3.02" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 2.16" |
| Jun | 73°F | 53°F | 1.70" |
| Jul | 81°F | 57°F | 0.54" |
| Aug | 82°F | 57°F | 0.46" |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 1.41" |
| Oct | 65°F | 47°F | 3.88" |
| Nov | 55°F | 43°F | 5.88" |
| Dec | 49°F | 40°F | 6.25" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bethany
Uninsured
2.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bethany's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Westside
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Hillsboro
Cedar Hills Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.9 mi away · Portland
Providence St Vincent Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Portland
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.
Education21.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bethany
Bethany's student/teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 71.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
71.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bethany (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 19,531 students · in-state tuition $5,430 · 20% graduate · median earnings $48,571 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 13,182 students · in-state tuition $12,315 · 59% graduate · median earnings $62,447 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,945 students · in-state tuition $5,366 · 42% graduate · median earnings $47,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,957 students · in-state tuition $60,100 · 80% graduate · median earnings $85,634 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,120 students · in-state tuition $68,048 · 72% graduate · median earnings $64,090 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,516 students · in-state tuition $58,348 · 70% graduate · median earnings $67,497 (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: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bethany
Bethany has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bethany
Bethany Branch
15325 Nw Central Drive Ste J8, Portland
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, Oregon affordable?⌄
Bethany's median rent is $2,245/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $167,735/year. Median home value is $751,700.
Is Bethany, Oregon safe?⌄
Bethany is policed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 205 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 855 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bethany, Oregon?⌄
Washington County, which includes Bethany, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bethany, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Bethany is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,245/month and median household income is $167,735/year. The median home value is $751,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bethany, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Bethany is 24 minutes, which is about 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