At a Glance
Median Income
$66,443
$39,866 per capita
Home Value
$236,500
Zillow: $361,684
Median Rent
$1,311/mo
31.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
210/100K
1,419/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
35.0%
89.8% high school+
Unemployment
7.2%
10.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.8%
21.5% smoking rate
How Bethlehem Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Bethlehem's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Bethlehem a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Bethlehem residents earn a median household income of $66,443 , which is 12% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $39,866. The unemployment rate stands at 7.2% (100% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 7,088 business establishments, including 726 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Bethlehem is $236,500 , 16% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $361,684. Median rent is $1,311/month, with 31.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1955.
Safety & Crime
Bethlehem reports 210 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 45% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,419/100K. The murder rate is 2.5/100K.
Education
35.0% of adults in Bethlehem hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(4% above the national average).
89.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Bethlehem has an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C).
Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 47.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population77,069
Median Age36.2 yrs
Density4,031/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born10.9%
Veterans5.1%
Economy
B
Median Income$66,443
Per Capita$39,866
Unemployment7.2%
Poverty10.2%
County GDP$20,982M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,160
Housing
A+
Home Value$236,500
Rent$1,311
Ownership50.7%
Zillow$361,684
Housing Units31,764
Rent Burden31.5%
Crime
F
Violent210/100K
Property1,419/100K
Murder2.5/100K
Assault135/100K
Burglary85/100K
Health
Obesity34.8%
Diabetes10.2%
Smoking21.5%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death6,471/100K
Climate
Avg Temp53°F
Rain47.4 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation351 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+35.0%
High School+89.8%
Graduate+13.5%
School Score5.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 50% / D 49%
Commute22 min
Broadband88.0%
Internet Speed200 Mbps
EV Stations37
Libraries10
Did You Know?
Bethlehem was founded in 1741.
The median home in Bethlehem was built in 1955.
The nearest airport is Lehigh Valley International (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.445 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
14.7% of the population has a disability.
10.9% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 200 Mbps.
There are 726 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 21 fatal vehicle crashes.