Bethlehem vs Wilkes-Barre
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania versus Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Wilkes-Barre edges out Bethlehem on overall objective livability (54 vs 48 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bethlehem | Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $43k |
| Home Value | $220k | $98k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $897 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.87% | 2.12% |
| Income Tax | 4.10% | 4.90% |
| Sales Tax | 6.34% | 6.34% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.81% | 11.47% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | 8.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 31°F | 27°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4 in | 45.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1 in | 45.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 223 days | 204 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 91 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 31.1 | 33.5 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 93.9 | 96.8 |
| Violent Crime | 988/100k | 2104/100k |
| Property Crime | 914/100k | 1611/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 76,555 | 44,123 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 34.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.54 | 0.60 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.94 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+15 |
| White (%) | 55.0% | 54.5% |
| Black (%) | 8.6% | 10.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 30.2% | 29.1% |
| Asian (%) | 3.1% | 2.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.1% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 15.9/20 | 9.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 52 mi | 97 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.0% | 83.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 68.06 | 93.15 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bethlehem or Wilkes-Barre more affordable?
- Wilkes-Barre has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Bethlehem's $50k and Wilkes-Barre's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Bethlehem versus $897 in Wilkes-Barre.
- Is Bethlehem or Wilkes-Barre safer?
- Bethlehem has the lower violent crime rate. Bethlehem reports 988/100k and Wilkes-Barre reports 2104/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bethlehem or Wilkes-Barre?
- The median home value is $220k in Bethlehem and $98k in Wilkes-Barre, so homes are more affordable in Wilkes-Barre.