Census-designated place · North Carolina
Bethlehem, North Carolina
Bethlehem, census-designated place, in Alexander County, North Carolina. Bethlehem had 4,491 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,101 (±788). GEOID 3705530.
Residents, 2020 Census
4,491
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 4,101 ±788
Median household income
$87,795
±$14,900 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$327,000
±$41,302 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$795
±$59 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Bethlehem and what county is it in?
Bethlehem is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Alexander County, North Carolina. It covers 7.6 square miles of land, 589 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bethlehem is in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bethlehem, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,491 residents in Bethlehem, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 4,101 (±788).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Bethlehem is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Alexander County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,101 ±788 | 36,412 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,591 ±233 | 14,126 | −309 |
| Average household size | 2.58 ±0.33 | 2.47 | +0.36 |
| Housing units | 1,731 ±249 | 16,218 | −333 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bethlehem?
The median resident of Bethlehem is 52.7 years old; 13.3% are under 18 and 27.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.1%. 6.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Alexander County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 ±4.0 | 43.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 13.3% ±5.2 pts | 19.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.9% ±6.4 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Male | 46.6% ±4.3 pts | 51.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.1% ±7.5 pts | 5.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.5% ±8.1 pts | 85.5% | −12.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.2% ±3.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.4 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.1% ±3.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.8% ±5.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.2% ±3.5 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 21.0% ±7.6 pts | 18.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.8% ±3.6 pts | 8.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.3% ±4.0 pts | 85.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.3% ±7.0 pts | 16.7% | +11.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.1% ±6.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.5% ±4.7 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3% ±2.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bethlehem earn?
Half of Bethlehem's 1,591 households earn less than $87,795 a year (±$14,900), against $65,354 in Alexander County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $84,972 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Alexander County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,795 ±$14,900 | $65,354 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $110,285 ±$17,254 | $83,653 | – |
| Per capita income | $50,266 ±$10,738 | $33,425 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.5% ±4.2 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.9% ±10.5 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.1% ±5.3 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.2% ±2.0 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.2% ±2.8 pts | 85.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bethlehem?
Owners occupy 89.5% of Bethlehem's occupied homes and renters 10.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $327,000 by its owner (±$41,302). The median renter pays $795 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Alexander County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $327,000 ±$41,302 | $211,800 | +$61,539 |
| Median gross rent | $795 ±$59 | $764 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.9% ±45.4 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,463 ±$255 | $1,215 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 89.5% ±6.3 pts | 80.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 10.5% ±6.3 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Housing units | 1,731 ±249 | 16,218 | −333 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±22.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 87.5% ±6.1 pts | 72.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% ±3.3 pts | 23.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.7% ±6.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.7% ±4.1 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.2% ±2.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.1% ±2.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Bethlehem work and get to work?
82.7% of Bethlehem's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 25.5 minutes.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Alexander County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.5% ±9.8 pts | 56.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0% ±6.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.7% ±9.4 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.4% ±5.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.2% ±6.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.5 min ±5.5 | 25.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bethlehem?
1 census tract lies mostly in Bethlehem (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 407Alexander County | 6,851 | $74,161 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bethlehem) · Census block assignment files
How does Bethlehem compare with other places in North Carolina?
Bethlehem ranks 97th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 204th | 443 |
| Residents per square mile | 331st | 443 |
| Median household income | 97th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 73rd | 443 |
| Median home value | 138th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 317th | 395 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 105th | 421 |
| Median age | 52nd | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 40th | 443 |
| Travel time to work | 172nd | 439 |
Bethlehem's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Bethlehem with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bethlehem?
24 of the 57 figures for Bethlehem on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bethlehem are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.