The Town FilesBethel, Pennsylvania
Township in Lebanon County · population 5,132 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,000
- Household income
- $89,911
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 40.9
Bethel is a township of 5,132 people in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $267,000, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 74% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bethel ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethel is worth $267,000, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $89,911, which is more affordable than 43% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $845 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethel | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $845 | $996 |
| Median household income | $89,911 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Bethel
| People | Bethel | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bethel
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 18, 1970 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 29, 2009.
Severe weather in Lebanon County since 1996
Lebanon County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lebanon County
Lebanon County had 53,500 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,454 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Bethel itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Bethel
- Swatara, PA2.9 mi · 5,061 people · home $250,900
- North Lebanon, PA5.5 mi · 12,041 people · home $234,300
- Bethel, PA5.8 mi · 4,059 people · home $270,200
- Union, PA6.7 mi · 2,932 people · home $264,300
- Jackson, PA6.7 mi · 9,348 people · home $247,600
- Pine Grove, PA6.7 mi · 4,016 people · home $235,900
- Lebanon, PA7.3 mi · 26,814 people · home $156,500
- Pleasant Hill, PA7.6 mi · 2,926 people · home $191,700
Bethel questions
Is Bethel, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethel scores better for retirees than 12% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 54%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Bethel?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethel is valued at $267,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,911, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethel?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 24.0 inches of snow.
Does Bethel get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 18, 1970. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)