Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Among the top 7% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 25% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 34% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 56% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 93% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 32% of US places
- top 1% for walkability
- top 11% for natural disaster risk
- bottom 6% for air quality
Bethlehem is a mid-size city in Pennsylvania with about 77,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and C for affordability. Standout strengths include walkability, natural disaster risk, and school quality. It rates lower on property tax rate and air quality.
Official websitebethlehem-pa.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
73%52%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.8 in3.3 in
humid 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$62k49th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$50kbetter than 33% of US places
Home Value$220k65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 26% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 33% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.87%better than 13% of US places
Income Tax4.10%better than 71% of US places
State 3.10% + Local 1.00%
Sales Tax6.34%better than 77% of US places
Estimated total tax burden12.81%better than 25% of US places
Unemployment5.6%better than 34% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)31°F46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation47.4 in68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall33.1 inbetter than 29% of US places
Sunny Days223 daysbetter than 40% of US places
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 54% of US places
Comfortable Days83 daysbetter than 53% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk31.1better than 89% of US places
Air Quality54 AQIbetter than 6% of US places
School Quality93.9better than 83% of US places
Violent Crime988/100kbetter than 36% of US places
Property Crime914/100kbetter than 51% of US places
Community
Population76,55598th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age35.926th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5488th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9440th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)55.0%20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)8.6%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)30.2%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.1%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.1%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 72% of US places
Walkability15.9/20better than 99% of US places
Airport Distance52 mibetter than 66% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.0%better than 45% of US places
Amenities Nearby68.06better than 46% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 33% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bethlehem an affordable place to live?
- Bethlehem is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $50k, better than 33% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Bethlehem?
- The median home value in Bethlehem is $220k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Bethlehem?
- Median household income in Bethlehem is $62k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Bethlehem?
- Median gross rent in Bethlehem is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Bethlehem safe?
- Bethlehem is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 988/100k (better than 36%). Property crime is 914/100k.
- What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
- Bethlehem averages 75°F in July and 31°F in January, with 47.4 in of annual precipitation and about 223 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Bethlehem?
- Public-school quality in Bethlehem is above average, scoring better than 83% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Bethlehem?
- The average one-way commute in Bethlehem is 23 min.
Other places in Northampton County
Places near Bethlehem
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)