Bethany, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 279, Bethany's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bethany is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Wayne County. The total population is 279. It ranks as the 1611th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bethany is 48.6 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 11.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bethany is $100,250. This is 29% higher than the state median of $77,971. It is also 24% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.0%. This is 57% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 1.5%. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $236,800. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Bethany is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bethany has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.8%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 10.3%.

Education

45.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% higher than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%. Notably, 24.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bethany, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.