The Town FilesNew Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Borough in Clarion County · population 978 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,400
- Household income
- $50,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.5
New Bethlehem is a borough of 978 people in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $179,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 75% of Pennsylvania towns.
How New 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 New Bethlehem is worth $179,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $50,000, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $667 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Bethlehem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $667 | $996 |
| Median household income | $50,000 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in New Bethlehem
| People | New Bethlehem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in New Bethlehem
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 4.0 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 20, 2017.
Severe weather in Clarion County since 1996
Clarion County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Clarion County
Clarion County had 12,341 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,067 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in New Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in New Bethlehem
2 public schools with 761 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redbank Valley HS | 6-12 | 549 | 14.8 |
| Redbank Valley Primary School | K-2 | 212 | 14.1 |
Towns near New Bethlehem
- Mahoning, PA3.5 mi · 1,404 people · home $123,500
- Redbank, PA4.0 mi · 974 people · home $108,600
- Porter, PA5.1 mi · 1,289 people · home $120,700
- Redbank, PA5.2 mi · 1,332 people · home $136,800
- Madison, PA7.4 mi · 824 people · home $132,500
- Ringgold, PA8.2 mi · 773 people · home $112,200
- Wayne, PA8.4 mi · 1,296 people · home $204,500
- Boggs, PA9.3 mi · 817 people · home $169,700
New Bethlehem questions
Is New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 85% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 54%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in New Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in New Bethlehem is valued at $179,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,000, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $667 a month.
What is the weather like in New Bethlehem?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does New Bethlehem get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. 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)