The Town FilesBethlehem, Georgia
Town in Barrow County · population 715 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,500
- Household income
- $61,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 32.4
Bethlehem is a town of 715 people in Barrow County, Georgia. The median home is worth $263,500, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 94% of Georgia towns, better for families than 84% of Georgia towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $263,500, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $61,875, which is more affordable than 23% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $972 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $972 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $61,875 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.2% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Barrow County since 1996
Barrow County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Barrow County
Barrow County had 24,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,359 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Bethlehem
1 public school with 660 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Elementary School | PK-5 | 660 | 12.2 |
Towns near Bethlehem
- Russell, GA3.0 mi · 1,322 people · home $88,800
- Winder, GA3.8 mi · 18,338 people · home $288,500
- Statham, GA6.3 mi · 2,813 people · home $247,600
- Auburn, GA8.9 mi · 7,495 people · home $299,700
- Monroe, GA9.7 mi · 14,928 people · home $259,300
- Bogart, GA10.1 mi · 1,326 people · home $273,500
- Hoschton, GA10.6 mi · 2,666 people · home $386,300
- Dacula, GA11.4 mi · 6,882 people · home $359,000
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 14% of Georgia towns and quieter than 62%. 11.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $263,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,875, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $972 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)