City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Bethlehem, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bethlehem - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

77,069
Residents
$66,443
Median income
$236,500
Median home
$1,634
Median rent (state)

Bethlehem - the verdict

Bethlehem ranks in the 45th percentile for household income and the 43rd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

45th
percentile, household income
53rd
percentile, home value
64th
percentile, median rent
43rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bethlehem, PA

Pennsylvania's Bethlehem is a small city, with 77,069 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $66,443 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.2%. Bethlehem's housing stock carries a median value of $236,500, and the median resident age is 36.2 years. Educational attainment runs 35.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 152 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 347% from five years earlier. Bethlehem reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1574.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Pennsylvania scores 97.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,634 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $260 across Pennsylvania, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

77,069 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$66,443 /yr

Poverty 10.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Bethlehem compare to other US cities?

Here's how Bethlehem stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 53% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% pricier than other cities
Safety 43% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Pennsylvania and the picture shifts: Bethlehem ranks #315 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bethlehem against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Pennsylvania only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Pennsylvania-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Bethlehem toward the top of Pennsylvania's cities

Among the 1,865 Pennsylvania cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Bethlehem ranks #200 - the 85th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bethlehem only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#902 of 1,765
49th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Gross Rent
#200 of 1,865
85th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Home Value
#441 of 1,790
75th percentile in Pennsylvania
Poverty Rate
#539 of 1,856
71st percentile in Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#404 of 1,861
78th percentile in Pennsylvania

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Pennsylvania only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

45thIncome percentile
43rdSafety percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income · 43rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bethlehem's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bethlehem's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Bethlehem's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bethlehem's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$236,500 47th percentile more affordable than 47% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bethlehem $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bethlehem, PA Bethlehem, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bethlehem, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bethlehem, PA median $66,443/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bethlehem, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bethlehem, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
77,069
Median Income
$66,443
Median Home Value
$236,500
Median Age
36.2
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Labor force participation
56.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1574.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
205.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1368.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
25
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
74,000 residents76,000 residents78,000 residents80,000 residents82,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 75,698 residents 79,644 residents ▲ +5.2%
Bethlehem's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
152
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
136
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 34
2020 90
2021 99
2022 375
2023 152
2024 152

Permit volume increased 347% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.0%
Carpool
6.9%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
3.2%
Work from Home
14.2%
Other
3.8%

Based on 36,495 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bethlehem sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,634/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Scranton
76,074 people
Erie
94,156 people
Reading
94,836 people
Lancaster
57,683 people
Levittown
50,930 people
Harrisburg
50,092 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethlehem's 77,069 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hammond, IN
77,098 people
Racine, WI
77,155 people
Woodbury, MN
76,945 people
Alameda, CA
76,876 people
Wyoming, MI
76,865 people
Rapid City, SD
76,836 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethlehem's $66,443 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pinehurst, ID
$66,447 median income
Woodson, TX
$66,435 median income
Brigham City, UT
$66,435 median income
Mayville, WI
$66,453 median income
Shirley, IN
$66,429 median income
Winside, NE
$66,429 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bethlehem, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bethlehem, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 62.3% 9.1% 11.3% 13.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 29.4% White 62.3% Black or African American 9.1% Asian 3.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 11.3% Two or more races 13.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bethlehem compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bethlehem (this city) 77,069 $66,443
Scranton 76,074 $49,531
Erie 94,156 $43,397
Reading 94,836 $45,599
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bethlehem, PA?

What is the population of Bethlehem, PA? +

Bethlehem, PA has a population of 77,069 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bethlehem, PA? +

In Bethlehem, the typical household earns $66,443 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bethlehem? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bethlehem; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is Bethlehem, PA safe? +

Bethlehem has a total crime rate of 1574.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bethlehem, PA? +

The median home value in Bethlehem is $236,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.