What it's like to live in Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a smaller city in Pennsylvania with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bethlehem deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold winters.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Bethlehem compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bethlehem
Based on Bethlehem's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,764
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,280 a year
- 51% of Bethlehem renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$52,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,040
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,382/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,382 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $260,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $260,400 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 40% below US
197 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1241/100k · Bethlehem Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 7 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (26 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Bethlehem's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,382/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Bethlehem
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