The Town FilesBethany, Oregon
Community in Washington County · population 31,350 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $751,700
- Household income
- $167,735
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 36.9
Bethany is a community of 31,350 people in Washington County, Oregon. The median home is worth $751,700, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks more upscale than 100% of Oregon towns, more of a college town than 97% of Oregon towns, better for families than 94% of Oregon towns.
How Bethany ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethany is worth $751,700, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $167,735, which is more affordable than 70% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $2,245 a month. 66.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethany | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $751,700 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $2,245 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $167,735 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.4% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Bethany
| People | Bethany | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.7% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 35.1% | — |
| Work from home | 39.2% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Bethany
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 40.4°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 10 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethany since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 8, 2019 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 8, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2024 | Fire | FM-5529: Lee Falls Fire |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | EM-3542: Wildfires |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | FM-5371: Chehalem Mountain Bald Peak Fire |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5358: Powerline Fire |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 308,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,292 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Bethany itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Bethany
- Oak Hills, OR1.5 mi · 11,903 people · home $647,800
- Rockcreek, OR2.0 mi · 9,862 people · home $653,300
- Cedar Mill, OR2.5 mi · 17,259 people · home $878,300
- Marlene Village, OR3.2 mi · 5,485 people · home $539,800
- Cedar Hills, OR4.2 mi · 8,379 people · home $611,400
- West Haven-Sylvan, OR4.6 mi · 9,299 people · home $782,400
- Aloha, OR5.1 mi · 53,828 people · home $484,400
- Hillsboro, OR5.3 mi · 106,447 people · home $521,100
Bethany questions
Is Bethany, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethany scores better for retirees than 40% of Oregon towns and quieter than 5%. 8.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Bethany?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethany is valued at $751,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $167,735, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $2,245 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethany?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 40.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Bethany get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethany since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 8, 2019. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)