The Town FilesBethlehem, Pennsylvania
City in Northampton County · population 75,781 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $260,400
- Household income
- $68,879
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 36.1
Bethlehem is a city of 75,781 people in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $260,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem is worth $260,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $68,879, which is more affordable than 12% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,382 a month. 49.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $260,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,382 | $996 |
| Median household income | $68,879 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 5, 1950 about 5.6 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 56 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2019.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 120,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Bethlehem
25 public schools with 15,640 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty HS | 9-12 | 2,587 | 15.4 |
| Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS (charter) | K-12 | 1,847 | 11.1 |
| Freedom HS | 9-12 | 1,813 | 15.8 |
| East Hills MS | 6-8 | 1,017 | 13.6 |
| Nitschmann MS | 6-8 | 735 | 13.6 |
| Northeast MS | 6-8 | 707 | 11.6 |
| Southern Lehigh Intermediate Sch | 4-6 | 689 | 15.3 |
| Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (charter) | 9-12 | 524 | 9.4 |
| Spring Garden El Sch | K-5 | 510 | 12.8 |
| Fountain Hill El Sch | PK-5 | 507 | 11.5 |
| Broughal MS | 6-8 | 496 | 10.6 |
| Donegan El Sch | PK-5 | 461 | 10.5 |
Towns near Bethlehem
- Freemansburg, PA1.5 mi · 2,875 people · home $225,600
- Fountain Hill, PA2.2 mi · 4,832 people · home $246,700
- Middletown, PA2.6 mi · 7,529 people · home $322,000
- Hanover, PA3.2 mi · 11,783 people · home $425,900
- Hellertown, PA3.5 mi · 6,132 people · home $256,200
- Salisbury, PA3.8 mi · 13,621 people · home $344,700
- Lower Saucon, PA4.1 mi · 11,094 people · home $396,200
- Catasauqua, PA5.2 mi · 6,518 people · home $209,900
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 13% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 5%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $260,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,879, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,382 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.1 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 5, 1950. 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)