Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Only 4 of the 248 Missouri towns we compare have a lower typical July afternoon high than Bethel. Its National Register listings include Bethel Historic District and Elim. Bethel has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Bethel beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 184 in 1880, a peak of 254 in 1920, 135 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bethel, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Bethel.
Its January low stands at 17°F, against 23°F in Missouri’s towns and 22°F across U.S. towns.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Among adults in Bethel, 44% have high blood pressure, where Missouri’s towns sit at 37% and U.S. towns at 35%. In Bethel, 36% of adults get no exercise outside work.
| Bethel | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 17% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 37% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 30% | 25% |
| What stands out | Bethel | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 25.3% | 15.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.6% | 6.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 12.2% | 8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Among households in Bethel, 75% live in a home they own. Values rose 7.8% in the 12 months to September 2026.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 53% of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to Bethel households in 7 declared disasters; the latest was in 2019.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Bethel; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Bethel residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
Village in Shelby County, Missouri, United States
Bethel is a village in Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 135 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Bethel has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
