Living in Bethlehem, PA
Small city in Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a small city in Pennsylvania, home to about 77,000 people, with 823,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Bethlehem a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 10 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 84°F
- Dog-friendly: 22 dog parks within 9 mi
- Easy flying: PHL is 53 mi away
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Higher taxes: about $1,376 state income tax per resident, 1.77% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Bethlehem ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Bethlehem: common questions
What is the cost of living in Bethlehem?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $336k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,090 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Bethlehem?
Pennsylvania collects about $1,376 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.77% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Bethlehem safe?
Bethlehem isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem has cold winters: winter days average around 41°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 33″ of snow a year.
Does Bethlehem get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and cold waves: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.53 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Bethlehem?
The nearest major airport is PHL, about 53 mi away.
How Bethlehem scores
Each bar compares Bethlehem with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Bethlehem right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.