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Living in
Bethlehem.
About
Life in Bethlehem
Housing is reasonable at a median home value around $260,400 with median rent at $1,382, and median household income hovers around $68,879, which gives you decent purchasing power without extreme cost of living. The job market is solid with 4.3% unemployment, supported by healthcare (St. Luke's Hospital system), Lehigh University, insurance companies, and retail operations.
Bethlehem at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.7%
Foreign-Born
10.0%
Broadband Internet
88.5%
of households
Population Growth
+5.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.0% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Bethlehem: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bethlehem, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (17.2%), and 17.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.9%
of households
Married Couples
35.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% above PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Bethlehem
In Bethlehem, rent runs 14% above the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,268
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $360,978 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Bethlehem
Unemployment in Bethlehem is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bethlehem Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.1 min avg
How Bethlehem residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bethlehem, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
Regional airport · few flights470k passengers boarded in 2025
- 52 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 40% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bethlehem runs 40% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
196.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,240.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bethlehem Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Northampton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Northampton County, which includes Bethlehem, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Winter Weather | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Dense Fog | $70,000 |
| 2023 | 22 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 30 | Winter Weather | $50.0M |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Winter Storm | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Northampton County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Northampton County, which includes Bethlehem, is typically good — 263 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
263
per year
Moderate Days
100
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Northampton County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bethlehem has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.4"
Annual Snowfall
33.1"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
118
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 3.30" |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 2.77" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 3.63" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.67" |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 3.65" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 4.40" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 5.30" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 4.56" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 4.84" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 4.14" |
| Nov | 54°F | 34°F | 3.24" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 3.86" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bethlehem
Bethlehem has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
St Lukes Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: St Lukes Hospital · 801 Ostrum Street
- Hospital campus: St. Luke's Lehighton Campus · 211 N 12th St, Lehighton
- Hospital campus: St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus · 421 W Chew St, Allentown
- Hospital campus: St. Luke's Lehighton Campus · 211 North 12th Street, Lehighton
- Hospital campus: St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus · 421 Chew St, Allentown
- Hospital campus: Saint Luke's Anderson Campus · 1872 St Lukes Blvd, Easton
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Luke's Hospital - Easton Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Easton
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Allentown
St Luke's Warren Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.1 mi away · Phillipsburg
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bethlehem
Bethlehem's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bethlehem
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,898 students · in-state tuition $67,920 · 91% graduate · median earnings $116,342 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,949 students · in-state tuition $55,560 · 70% graduate · median earnings $66,967 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,757 students · in-state tuition $67,606 · 89% graduate · median earnings $102,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,727 students · in-state tuition $65,310 · 81% graduate · median earnings $76,444 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 834 students · in-state tuition $47,714 · 55% graduate · median earnings $61,250 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bethlehem
Bethlehem has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
26 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
37 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
41 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
45 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
46 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bethlehem
Bethlehem Area Public Library
11 West Church St, Bethlehem
South Side Branch Library
400 Webster Street, Bethlehem
Cities Near Bethlehem
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bethlehem?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bethlehem FAQ
Is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Bethlehem's median rent is $1,382/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $68,879/year. Median home value is $260,400.
Is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Bethlehem's violent crime rate was 197 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1241 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?⌄
Bethlehem has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Bethlehem is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,382/month and median household income is $68,879/year. The median home value is $260,400. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Bethlehem is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from