The Town FilesBethlehem, North Carolina
Community in Alexander County · population 4,491 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $327,000
- Household income
- $87,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 52.7
Bethlehem is a community of 4,491 people in Alexander County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $327,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 76% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $327,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $87,795, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $795 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $795 | $969 |
| Median household income | $87,795 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1998 about 3.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 21, 2018.
Severe weather in Alexander County since 1996
Alexander County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Alexander County
Alexander County had 8,510 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,164 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near Bethlehem
- St. Stephens, NC4.0 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
- Northlakes, NC4.5 mi · 1,543 people · home $366,500
- Hickory, NC5.7 mi · 43,490 people · home $278,400
- Granite Falls, NC7.1 mi · 4,965 people · home $202,400
- Long View, NC8.1 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
- Rhodhiss, NC8.2 mi · 997 people · home $134,700
- Conover, NC8.5 mi · 8,421 people · home $271,300
- Hildebran, NC9.6 mi · 1,679 people · home $193,900
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 57% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 71%. 27.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.7).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $327,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,795, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $795 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1998. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)