What are the schools like in Bethlehem, PA?

Bethlehem is served primarily by Bethlehem Area SD. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Bethlehem?

The median household income in Bethlehem, PA is $62,072 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Bethlehem, PA?

Bethlehem has an average high temperature of 38.4°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.1 inches.

Bethlehem, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bethlehem, PA affordable or expensive?

Bethlehem's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bethlehem is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $220,300 and the median rent is $1,218 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bethlehem, PA?

Bethlehem has a violent crime rate of 205.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1368.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bethlehem, PA a Good Place to Live?

Bethlehem is a mid-sized city of 76,555 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $62,072 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Bethlehem stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bethlehem is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bethlehem city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.4

Bethlehem's overall cost of living index is 98.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bethlehem costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bethlehem, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$220,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,218	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,072	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bethlehem's violent crime rate is 205.8 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

205.8 /100k

Property Crime

1368.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bethlehem is served primarily by Bethlehem Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bethlehem, PA	National Avg
School District	Bethlehem Area SD	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bethlehem sees average highs of 38.4°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 47.4 inches of annual precipitation and 33.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bethlehem, PA
Average High — January	38.4°F
Average High — July	86.4°F
Annual Precipitation	47.4"
Annual Snowfall	33.1"

Demographics

Metric	Bethlehem, PA	National Avg
Population	76,555	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	65.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	18.5%	18.9%
Asian	3.2%	6.3%
Under 18	17.5%	22.2%
65 and over	18.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Freemansburg, PA 1 mi Fountain Hill, PA 2 mi Middletown, PA 3 mi Hellertown, PA 3 mi Catasauqua, PA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Bethlehem

Bethlehem, PA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

18015 18017 18018

Bethlehem vs Other Cities

Bethlehem, PA vs Freemansburg, PA Bethlehem, PA vs Fountain Hill, PA Bethlehem, PA vs Middletown, PA Bethlehem, PA vs Hellertown, PA Bethlehem, PA vs Catasauqua, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethlehem, PA affordable or expensive?

Bethlehem's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bethlehem roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $220,300 and median rent is $1,218/month.

What is the crime rate in Bethlehem, PA?

Bethlehem's violent crime rate is 205.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1368.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bethlehem?

Public schools in Bethlehem are operated by Bethlehem Area SD. The district has 16 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 33.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bethlehem, PA a good place to live?

Bethlehem, PA has a population of 76,555, a median household income of $62,072, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bethlehem?

Bethlehem averages 38.4°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.4 inches with about 33.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bethlehem?

Bethlehem, PA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 18015, 18017, 18018.

What is the population of Bethlehem?

The population of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is 76,555 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bethlehem?

Key numbers for living in Bethlehem: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $220,300, median household income $62,072, crime index 59 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bethlehem side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.