The Town FilesBethlehem, New York
Town in Albany County · population 35,034 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $370,400
- Household income
- $123,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 45.3
Bethlehem is a town of 35,034 people in Albany County, New York. The median home is worth $370,400, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more upscale than 92% of New York towns, better for cycling than 89% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 86% of New York towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $370,400, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $123,893, which is more affordable than 45% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,721 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $370,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,721 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $123,893 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 31, 1998 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 8, 2011.
Severe weather in Albany County since 1996
Albany County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Albany County
Albany County had 233,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Bethlehem
7 public schools with 4,278 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,373 | 13.1 |
| BETHLEHEM CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 902 | 10.9 |
| SLINGERLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 455 | 13.4 |
| EAGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 429 | 12.3 |
| ALBERTUS W BECKER SCHOOL | PK-5 | 416 | 10.9 |
| GLENMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 372 | 12.4 |
| HAMAGRAEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 331 | 11.4 |
Towns near Bethlehem
- Hampton Manor, NY5.5 mi · 5,423 people · home $239,400
- Albany, NY5.7 mi · 99,224 people · home $234,700
- New Scotland, NY5.8 mi · 9,096 people · home $348,500
- East Greenbush, NY6.3 mi · 6,266 people · home $303,400
- Rensselaer, NY6.4 mi · 9,210 people · home $208,900
- East Greenbush, NY6.6 mi · 16,748 people · home $291,500
- Coeymans, NY6.9 mi · 7,256 people · home $234,100
- Voorheesville, NY7.2 mi · 2,841 people · home $324,700
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 84% of New York towns and quieter than 40%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $370,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,893, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,721 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 56.2 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 31, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)