The Town FilesWest Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Township in Washington County · population 1,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,100
- Household income
- $64,934
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 50.8
West Bethlehem is a township of 1,291 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $219,100, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
How West 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 West Bethlehem is worth $219,100, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $64,934, which is more affordable than 25% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,097 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Bethlehem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,097 | $996 |
| Median household income | $64,934 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in West Bethlehem
| People | West Bethlehem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 13.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Bethlehem
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 30, 1990 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 4, 2011.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington 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 Washington County
Washington County had 87,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,319 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in West Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near West Bethlehem
- Deemston, PA4.1 mi · 754 people · home $228,100
- North Bethlehem, PA4.2 mi · 1,553 people · home $230,900
- Cokeburg, PA4.9 mi · 629 people · home $162,500
- Amwell, PA5.2 mi · 3,679 people · home $231,800
- East Bethlehem, PA5.4 mi · 2,311 people · home $120,000
- Morgan, PA5.7 mi · 2,335 people · home $113,700
- Millsboro, PA6.5 mi · 580 people · home —
- Ellsworth, PA6.6 mi · 945 people · home $76,400
West Bethlehem questions
Is West Bethlehem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 68% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 54%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in West Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in West Bethlehem is valued at $219,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,934, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,097 a month.
What is the weather like in West Bethlehem?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does West Bethlehem get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 30, 1990. 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)