The Town FilesBethlehem, New Jersey
Township in Hunterdon County · population 3,745 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $496,600
- Household income
- $142,434
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 44.2
Bethlehem is a township of 3,745 people in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $496,600, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for families than 92% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of New Jersey towns, easier by car than 91% of New Jersey towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $496,600, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $142,434, which is more affordable than 62% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,047 a month. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $496,600 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,047 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $142,434 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.3% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 94.6% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.1 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 2, 1973 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 27, 2010.
Severe weather in Hunterdon County since 1996
Hunterdon County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County had 46,663 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,099 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Bethlehem
- Union, NJ3.3 mi · 6,507 people · home $416,600
- Franklin, NJ3.9 mi · 2,968 people · home $428,300
- Alexandria, NJ4.9 mi · 4,809 people · home $552,000
- Washington, NJ5.3 mi · 6,492 people · home $413,800
- Clinton, NJ5.4 mi · 2,773 people · home $436,200
- Greenwich, NJ5.7 mi · 5,473 people · home $474,900
- High Bridge, NJ6.4 mi · 3,546 people · home $336,500
- Greenwich, NJ6.5 mi · 2,558 people · home $468,400
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 68% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 81%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $496,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,434, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $2,047 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.1 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 2, 1973. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)