Best Life Index › States › Pennsylvania › Cities › Bethlehem

Pennsylvania city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Bethlehem?

What it costs to live in Bethlehem, and how it compares with other Pennsylvania cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

32

40th best value in Pennsylvania

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Pennsylvania cities.

Overall livability

48

24th overall in Pennsylvania

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Bethlehem is home to about 75,599 people. A typical home runs $185,600 and a household earns around $58,200, a price-to-income ratio of 3.2. Among Pennsylvania's largest cities, it ranks 40th for value and 24th overall.

Bethlehem at a glance

Median home price

$185,600

36th in PA of 44

Median rent

$1,111/mo

Median household income

$58,200

Home price to income

3.2x

Unemployment

5.6%

20th in PA of 44

School rating

4/10

16th in PA of 44

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in PA of 44

Walk score

8/100

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‹ See all top Pennsylvania cities ranked  ยท  Pennsylvania state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Pennsylvania only. Updated 2026.