Bethlehem, PA
Census place 4206088 · pop 77,956
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
49.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.64% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,905/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$68,879 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
3.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
2 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$260,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
83/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
36.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Bethlehem: Crime, Obesity, Mental, Inactive, Smoking, Uninsured, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Bethlehem, PA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Bethlehem scores 47/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 15 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is homeownership. Pennsylvania overall ranks #37 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Bethlehem, PA expensive to live in?
- Bethlehem has a median home value of $260,400 and typical rent around $1,905/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Bethlehem, PA?
- Its weakest measured area is homeownership (49.9%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Bethlehem, PA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (39 AQI) — 73/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Former home of Bethlehem Steel, it bills itself as 'Christmas City, USA.'
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.