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Bethany-harrisonPhoto: Americasroof · CC BY-SA 3.0
≈ C−Health Grade
Health in Bethany · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bethany is healthier than 53%

Bethany differs from Missouri on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bethany. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Bethany

Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Bethany

1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.2%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.8%), vs 8% across Missouri. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.6% across Missouri. In all, Bethany runs above Missouri on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Missouri 18%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

Bethany is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Bethany is healthier than 21%. Against the 5,169 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 53%. Health Grade ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Missouri figure falls outside Bethany’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.

Health Grade

What’s behind Bethany’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethany is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #153 of 247 in Missouri. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 42% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 13%).

C−Self-rated health23.5% · MO 20.5% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress16.7% · MO 14.2% · U.S. 13%
C+Mental distress17.5% · MO 17.5% · U.S. 15.9%
C+Obesity37.7% · MO 36.6% · U.S. 32.9%
C−Diabetes14.1% · MO 12.1% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking17.4% smoke · MO 16% · U.S. 11.8%
DExercise32.8% · MO 28.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 21%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (247)Healthier than 38%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $36K–$60K (5,169)Healthier than 53%

Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bethany’s median household income is $48,375; among the 5,169 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.

Few Missouri towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Bethany is healthier than 38% of graded towns, against 21% nationally.

Where Bethany compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.6% (U.S. 76.5%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Bethany could be anywhere from D− to B. The letter shows with “≈”.
A note on the data.2025 figures come from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer; the FBI's published 2025 table doesn't include this department

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Bethany adults…

Bethany runs above MO on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Bethany adults have heart disease
Missouri: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 8–10.4%
Better than MOWorseAbout the sameMissouri
Why age matters here

Bethany is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Missouri. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bethany as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Bethany26%
Missouri18%
Getting care

Care in and near Bethany

1 hospital in Bethany, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERHarrison County Community HospitalBethany · 0.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyHarrison County Community Hospital★★★★★ · 0.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNorthwest Health ServicesCainsville · 17.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Harrison County Community Hospital
Bethany · ★★★★★
ERRural critical accessIn Bethany
15.6 mi
Mosaic Medical Center Albany
Albany · not rated
ERRural critical access
17.9 mi
Northwest Health Services
3 sites · nearest in Cainsville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
24.9 mi
Infinity Health
5 sites · nearest in Lamoni
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
27.5 mi
Wright Memorial Hospital
Trenton · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
30 mi
Ringgold County Hospital
Mount Ayr · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Bethany itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Bethany itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Bethany itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bethany; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri

Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.

Get no exercise 32.8%MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 40.1%MO 36.5%
Binge drink 14.5%MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettes 17.4%MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Bethany, betterBethany, worseAbout the sameMissouri
Where Bethany gets moving

0.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Bethany adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.

80%Yearly checkupMO 78%
56%Dentist visitMO 60%
85%Cholesterol checkMO 85%
65%Colon screeningMO 64%
71%MammogramMO 75%
81%Taking BP medsMO 77%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bethany 9% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection

How Bethany adults are doing

About the same as Missouri on each measure.

3 in 10Bethany adults feel lonely
29.4% · MO 31.7% · About the same as MO
1 in 5Bethany adults lack social or emotional support
18.6% · MO 20.1% · About the same as MO
1 in 4Bethany adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.6% · MO 24.3% · About the same as MO
1 in 6Bethany adults are in frequent mental distress
17.5% · MO 17.5% · About the same as MO
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Bethany adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Bethany adults worry about having enough food
13.8% · MO 13.7%
About the same as MO
1 in 9
Bethany adults worry about keeping their housing
11% · MO 12.1%
About the same as MO
1 in 12
Bethany adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.4% · MO 9%
About the same as MO
1 in 12
Bethany adults lack reliable transportation
8.4% · MO 8.4%
About the same as MO

11.6% of Bethany adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.

Around town

Bethany and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
BethanyC−37.7%14.1%17.4%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

41%

of Bethany adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.2%
Thinking or memory18.2%
Hearing11.3%
Errands alone11%
Vision6.2%
Dressing or bathing4.8%
Missouri

Every CDC estimate for Bethany

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bethany is better than Missouri on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Bethany’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…BethanyMOU.S.vs MO
Overall health
Fair or poor health23.5%19.7–27.620.5%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)16.7%14.3–19.114.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.5%15.1–2017.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity37.7%29.7–45.936.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes14.1%12–16.212.1%12%About the same
High blood pressure40.7%36.1–45.236.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)41.6%36.7–46.137.5%37.1%About the same
Arthritis34.9%31.1–38.728.8%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.7%9.3–12.210.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer11%9.9–12.38.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease9.2%8–10.46.8%6.4%Worse
COPD10.8%9–12.78%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.7%4.1–5.43.6%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)24%19.9–28.415.8%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.4%14.1–20.916%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work32.8%27.1–38.528.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking14.5%11.7–17.516.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours40.1%33.3–47.336.5%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)9%6.9–11.58.7%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year80.1%76.6–83.378.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year55.6%51.9–59.460.4%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.1%82.8–87.384.5%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)80.6%77.9–8377.2%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.6%59.4–69.664%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71.4%62.7–78.974.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.6%20.8–28.624.3%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.4%24.6–34.531.7%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support18.6%15.3–22.120.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13.8%10.7–1713.7%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing11%8.8–13.212.1%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.4%6.8–9.99%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.4%6.9–9.98.4%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)11.6%8.8–14.510.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability41%35.6–46.336.2%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs20.2%17.1–23.415.8%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering18.2%15.5–21.117.2%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty11.3%9.9–12.88.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty6.2%5.2–7.25.1%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone11%9.2–12.89.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.8%4.1–5.63.9%3.8%Higher

Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Missouri figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Bethany

Is Bethany a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethany is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #153 of 247 in Missouri. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Bethany?

CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 45.9%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Bethany?

Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Bethany’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Bethany have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–11.5%), against 8.7% across Missouri.

How accurate are these numbers?

They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bethany more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bethany.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.