Bethlehem, PA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

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Northampton County · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton · population 79,453

Bethlehem, PA
Image: Wikipedia · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
72
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Bethlehem stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $356,707
1-year +3.3%
5-yr CAGR +6.3%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.2%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$357k$175k$240k$306k$371k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
52/100
Somewhat walkable
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
88/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,871/mo$1,349$1,675$2,001202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent136130100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 15.9
Lean buy

At a 15.9 price-to-rent ratio, Bethlehem is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
66 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
71 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
68 · w16%
Rent YoY
61 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
72 · w10%
Long thesis

Bethlehem is a Rust Belt market with +1.2% population growth — a rare combination. You're buying real housing for less than the cost of a coastal studio in a city the data says is finally turning.

Short thesis

Bethlehem's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, with an estimated population of 79,453. It anchors the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area. The population grew 1.2% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Bethlehem is $356,707 as of 2026-04, up 3.3% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Bethlehem average $1,871 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.4%). The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +6.3% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +3.3% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Net positive migration: population up 1.2% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Bethlehem (Wikipedia)

Bethlehem is a city in Northampton and Lehigh counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, Bethlehem had a total population of 75,781, making it the second-largest city in the Lehigh Valley after Allentown and the seventh-largest city in the state. Among its total population as of 2020, 55,639 were in Northampton County and 19,343 were in Lehigh County. The city is located along the Lehigh River, a 109-mile-long (175 km) tributary of the Delaware River.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

City facts

MayorJ. William Reynolds (D)
Area19.46 sq mi
Elevation360 ft
FoundedDecember 24, 1741
Density3964.48/sq mi

Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Northampton County right now.

NWS active alerts (PA)Pennsylvania Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Northampton County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Bethlehem

1 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Middletown$373,091+3.0%

Cities like Bethlehem

Harrisburg, PA72 · RisingYork, PA73 · RisingAllentown, PA73 · RisingEaston, PA74 · Rising

Run the numbers for Bethlehem

ToolCan I afford Bethlehem?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Bethlehem rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Bethlehem to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolBethlehem cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
36° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
83° / 63°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
186
~51% of year
Annual precip
42″ rain
30″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Low
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Bethlehem listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$73,800
Pennsylvania state median
Top industries (state-level)
Healthcare (Pittsburgh)Finance (Philly)Manufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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