Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has an overall cost of living index of 98.9, which is 1.1 points below the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,382 per month, while the typical home is valued around $260,400. Households earn a median of $68,879 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$68,879
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,382
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$260,400
Median Home Value
Census ACS
98.9
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,130
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,341
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,634
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,087
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
98.9
Goods
98.2
Rents / Housing
98.9
Services
115.5
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $117,650 |
| Registered Nurse | $92,680 |
| Elementary Teacher | $74,100 |
| Electrician | $73,210 |
| Accountant | $84,670 |
| Plumber | $74,480 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $229,280 |
| Civil Engineer | $104,510 |
| Operations Manager | $118,790 |
| Market Research Analyst | $70,710 |
| Health Services Manager | $121,900 |
| Truck Driver | $61,490 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $166,670 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
77,956
Latest estimate
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
5
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,315
Per month
Avg Home Value
$259,580
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 18015 | — | $1,165 | $216,700 |
| ZIP 18017 | — | $1,448 | $290,400 |
| ZIP 18018 | — | $1,213 | $204,900 |
| ZIP 18020 | — | $1,463 | $325,800 |
| ZIP 18055 | — | $1,287 | $260,100 |
January Avg
29°F
July Avg
75°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.1
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
93.4%
Bethlehem has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.9. The US national average is 100, so Bethlehem is 1.1 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Bethlehem is $1,382 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Bethlehem is $68,879 per year.
The median home value in Bethlehem is $260,400 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for Bethlehem is not yet available.
Tax data for Pennsylvania is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
