City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Bethlehem, WV

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.

2,568
Residents
$87,500
Median income
$203,000
Median home
$991
Median rent (state)

Bethlehem - the verdict

Nationally, Bethlehem sits in the 69th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

69th
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,568 residents in Bethlehem, a small town within West Virginia. Median household income here is $87,500 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.5%. Home values in Bethlehem run a median of $203,000, and the median resident age is 41.4 years. 44.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $991 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $220 across West Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 69.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

2,568 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$87,500 /yr

Poverty 4.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Bethlehem compare to other US cities?

Bethlehem measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

West Virginia-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Bethlehem's strongest outlier among West Virginia cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Bethlehem ranks #23 - the 94th 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
#27 of 330
92nd percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#95 of 390
73rd percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#49 of 337
85th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#271 of 389
30th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#23 of 390
94th percentile in West Virginia

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 West Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

69thIncome percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bethlehem's home value compares nationally

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

$203,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $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, WV Bethlehem, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bethlehem, WV-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, WV median $87,500/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, WV'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, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 44.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.9%

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

Population
2,568
Median Income
$87,500
Median Home Value
$203,000
Median Age
41.4
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Labor force participation
57.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
44.8%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,500 residents2,550 residents2,600 residents2,650 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,615 residents 2,520 residents ▼ -3.6%
Bethlehem's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 9
2021 6
2022 8
2023 1
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.5%
Carpool
6.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
9.5%

Based on 1,119 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$991/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Winfield
2,538 people
Inwood
2,605 people
Paden City
2,529 people
Richwood
2,617 people
White Sulphur Springs
2,646 people
Mineralwells
2,489 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethlehem's 2,568 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

England, AR
2,568 people
Lapel, IN
2,568 people
Corinth, NY
2,568 people
Tropical Park, FL
2,567 people
Wabasha, MN
2,569 people
Lisbon, OH
2,567 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethlehem's $87,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Le Roy, IL
$87,500 median income
Reynolds, IL
$87,500 median income
Nichols, IA
$87,500 median income
Maple Hill, KS
$87,500 median income
Lake Ann, MI
$87,500 median income
Frontenac, MN
$87,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bethlehem, WV 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, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.7% White 96.5% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 1.6% 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 West Virginia 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) 2,568 $87,500
Winfield 2,538 $89,917
Inwood 2,605 $82,267
Paden City 2,529 $53,871
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bethlehem, WV?

What is the population of Bethlehem, WV? +

2,568 people live in Bethlehem, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Bethlehem households earn a median of $87,500 annually, 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 West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

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

Bethlehem's median home value sits at $203,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.