Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Bethlehem, PA

    Is Bethlehem a good place to live?

    Watch Bethlehem

    Bethlehem ranks #9 of 25 Pennsylvania cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (51/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $236,500
    +7.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,311
    per month
    Household income
    $66,443
    median
    Unemployment
    7.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Bethlehem

    The median home value in Bethlehem is $236,500 and median rent is $1,311 a month, against a median household income of $66,443. Homes cost about 3.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Bethlehem crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Pennsylvania the 2025 rate was 229 violent and 1,360 property crimes per 100,000 people — #34 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Bethlehem, PA

    Bethlehem has about 77,069 residents, 7.2% unemployment and 21% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Bethlehem with

    Bethlehem vs PhiladelphiaBethlehem vs PittsburghBethlehem vs AllentownBethlehem vs ReadingBethlehem vs ErieBethlehem vs ScrantonBethlehem vs LancasterBethlehem vs Levittown

    More: Where to move in Pennsylvania · Best counties in Pennsylvania

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report