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Economy, jobs and prices in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: official figures

The median household income in Bethlehem was $68,879 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 270th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Pennsylvania median $77,971.

Median household income
$68,879
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.6%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
22.1 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,382
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$260,400
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
49.9%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
88.5%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Bethlehem?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Bethlehem averaged $41,031 a year in 2020-2024, 401st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Pennsylvania: $44,355).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Bethlehem?

Bethlehem's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.478 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 200th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?

6.6% of the civilian labor force in Bethlehem was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (2,678 people), 187th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Pennsylvania's 5.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Bethlehem are working?

61.7% of Bethlehem's 66,076 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 172nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Bethlehem have jobs?

38,070 residents of Bethlehem held civilian jobs, 57.6% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%); the survey counted no residents in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Bethlehem?

The largest industry group for working residents of Bethlehem was education, health care and social assistance (31.3% of employed residents), followed by retail trade (10.6%) and manufacturing (10.6%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Bethlehem work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 10.6% of working residents of Bethlehem, 283rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 9.9% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?

Commuters in Bethlehem took 22.1 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 256th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 6.5% travelled an hour or more and 33.3% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Bethlehem get to work?

17.2% of workers living in Bethlehem worked from home in 2020-2024, 289th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 66.8% drove to work alone, 7.2% carpooled, 1.9% used public transport and 3.4% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Bethlehem was $1,382 a month in 2020-2024, 305th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Pennsylvania: $1,209).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?

Owner-occupied homes in Bethlehem had a median value of $260,400 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 213th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Pennsylvania: $254,500).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Bethlehem?

The median home value in Bethlehem was 3.8 times the median household income, 262nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania own their home?

49.9% of the 31,052 occupied homes in Bethlehem were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 15,543 were rented, 207th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Pennsylvania: 69.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Bethlehem have broadband?

88.5% of households in Bethlehem had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 131st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Pennsylvania: 89.7%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Bethlehem have no internet?

8.2% of households in Bethlehem (2,560) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 116th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 11.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Bethlehem compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 554 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
551Kansas City$69,166
552Grand Rapids$69,108
553Sioux City$68,906
554Bethlehem$68,879
555Duluth$68,807
556Texas City$68,776
557Rock Hill$68,771
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 401 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
398Euless$41,178
399Clermont$41,138
400Revere$41,127
401Bethlehem$41,031
402Antioch$41,008
403Federal Way$40,975
404West New York$40,965
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 200 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
197Santa Fe0.478
198Portland0.478
199South Bend0.478
200Bethlehem0.478
201Conway0.477
202Ocala0.477
203Bellingham0.477
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 187 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
184Kenner6.6%
185National City6.6%
186Dearborn6.6%
187Bethlehem6.6%
188Pomona6.6%
189Vista6.6%
190Sacramento6.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 652 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
649Porterville61.7%
650Longview61.7%
651Rochester61.7%
652Bethlehem61.7%
653Hanford61.7%
654Grand Junction61.7%
655Novato61.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 568 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
565Taylorsville22.2
566Akron22.2
567Warner Robins22.2
568Bethlehem22.1
569St. Louis22.1
570Redmond22.1
571Salem22.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 289 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
286Champaign17.3%
287Santee17.3%
288Eugene17.3%
289Bethlehem17.2%
290San Luis Obispo17.1%
291Commerce City17.1%
292Southfield17.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 285 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
282Upland1.9%
283Elgin1.9%
284Gary1.9%
285Bethlehem1.9%
286Fullerton1.9%
287Marysville1.9%
288Fall River1.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 283 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
280Naperville10.7%
281Encinitas10.6%
282Lakeville10.6%
283Bethlehem10.6%
284Pinellas Park10.6%
285Folsom10.5%
286Port Arthur10.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 50 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
47Baltimore31.6%
48Eugene31.5%
49East Orange31.3%
50Bethlehem31.3%
51Lynchburg31.2%
52Waltham31.2%
53Buffalo31.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 519 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
516Greeley$1,388
517Casa Grande$1,386
518Savannah$1,382
519Bethlehem$1,382
520Royal Oak$1,381
521Redding$1,379
522Medford$1,376
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 611 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
608Blue Springs$263,100
609Springdale$261,800
610Newport News$260,600
611Bethlehem$260,400
612Casper$260,400
613Lafayette$257,000
614Great Falls$257,000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 559 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
556Wheaton3.8x
557Apple Valley3.8x
558Albany3.8x
559Bethlehem3.8x
560Hoover3.8x
561Stonecrest3.8x
562Waukesha3.8x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 617 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
614Pawtucket50.1%
615Denton50.0%
616San Bernardino50.0%
617Bethlehem49.9%
618San Mateo49.9%
619Scranton49.9%
620Olympia49.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 693 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
690Kansas City88.6%
691Joplin88.6%
692Glendale88.6%
693Bethlehem88.5%
694Taylor88.5%
695Buffalo88.5%
696Columbia88.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Bethlehem ranks 116 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
113Independence8.4%
114Schenectady8.3%
115South Bend8.3%
116Bethlehem8.2%
117Santa Maria8.2%
118Syracuse8.2%
119Beaumont8.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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