Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 77,956 residents · Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem , Pennsylvania

In Bethlehem, a typical home is worth $260,400 and typical rent is $1,382 a month. Compared with all of Northampton County, typical household income is 23% lower, the typical home value is 16% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $260,400

    16% below the county

    2% above Pennsylvania

    • Bethlehem
    • Northampton
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical rent

    $1,382a month

    About the same as the county

    14% above Pennsylvania

    • Bethlehem
    • Northampton
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical household income

    $68,879a year

    23% below the county

    12% below Pennsylvania

    • Bethlehem
    • Northampton
    • Pennsylvania

  • Households that own their home

    50%

    21 points below the county

    19 points below Pennsylvania

    • Bethlehem
    • Northampton
    • Pennsylvania

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$360,978
4.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,880 a month
2.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Bethlehem is in Northampton County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Northampton County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Bethlehem apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 50% of households in Bethlehem own their home, against 71% in Northampton County.

  2. Nearby, in Catasauqua, the typical rent is $1,031: 25% less than in Bethlehem ($1,382).

  3. Nearby, in Allentown, the typical home value is $206,600: 21% less than in Bethlehem ($260,400).

  4. The typical household income in Bethlehem is $68,879, 23% less than in Northampton County as a whole ($89,184).

  5. The typical home in Bethlehem is worth $260,400, 16% less than in Northampton County as a whole ($308,600).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Bethlehem

What homes there are in Bethlehem, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Bethlehem there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (36%); in Northampton County, 58%.

Year built

Homes in Bethlehem are older: the typical year built is 1957; in Northampton County, 1971.

In Bethlehem, 21% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 69% in Northampton County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Bethlehem sit under the FHA limit for Northampton County ($541,287): about 92%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 76% of rented homes in Bethlehem cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Northampton County ($1,839).

With a mortgage

$1,721 a month

Northampton County: $1,957 a month

Without a mortgage

$693 a month

Northampton County: $766 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

Northampton County: 60%

Owning costs less in Bethlehem: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,721 a month; in Northampton County, $1,957. Without one, $693.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Bethlehem rose 50%; in Northampton County, it rose 40%.

Rents in Bethlehem rose faster than in Northampton County: 33% since 2015–2019, against 29%.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Bethlehem: typical income rose 23%, against +50% for home values and +33% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBethlehemNorthampton CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 2.9%2.5%4.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.3%1.3%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.302.492.392.53
Drive alone 67%75%68%69%
Carpool 7%6%8%9%
Public transit 2%1%4%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%4%3%
Work from home 17%14%16%15%
Other means 3%2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Bethlehem look like those in Northampton County: the rental vacancy rate is 2.9%.

Much as in Northampton County, 1.3% of households in Bethlehem have more than one person per room.

Households in Bethlehem are smaller: 2.30 people on average; in Northampton County, 2.49.

To get to work, 67% of workers in Bethlehem drive alone; in Northampton County, 75%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Bethlehem?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Bethlehem, worth $260,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Bethlehem, which is $68,879 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $99,070 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Northampton County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Bethlehem. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,114 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,312

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$255,684
Total interest
$367,869
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,398 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,607 a month

  • Tight

    $1,607 to $2,066 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,066 a month

    Your payment · 40%

Compared with the typical household income in Bethlehem ($68,879 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,312
Principal & interest$1,732
Property tax$356
Home insurance$109
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$115

You need at least $9,114 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Bethlehem and Northampton County

Bethlehem is in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Bethlehem's own numbers

Typical home value
$260,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,382
Typical yearly household income
$68,879
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
1.64%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Northampton County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,839
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Northampton County.

Everything about Northampton County

Buying

Buying a home in Bethlehem

A typical home in Bethlehem is worth $260,400: 16% below the county and 2% above Pennsylvania. With the typical household income in Bethlehem ($68,879 a year), a typical home costs 3.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Bethlehem 3.8 years
  • Northampton 3.5 years
  • Pennsylvania 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Northampton County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Northampton County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Northampton County.

Period County Pennsylvania U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.2% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +48% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +92% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Bethlehem next to Northampton County, Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Bethlehem $260,400
  • Northampton $308,600
  • Pennsylvania $254,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Bethlehem $1,382
  • Northampton $1,395
  • Pennsylvania $1,209
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Bethlehem $68,879
  • Northampton $89,184
  • Pennsylvania $77,971
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Bethlehem next to Northampton County and Pennsylvania
Measure Bethlehem Northampton County Pennsylvania U.S.
Typical home value $260,400 $308,600 $254,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,382 $1,395 $1,209 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $68,879 $89,184 $77,971 $80,734
Households that own their home 50% 71% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,268 $4,700 $3,311 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.64% 1.52% 1.3% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Northampton County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bethlehem

For a typical $260,400 home in Bethlehem, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bethlehem's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,312a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,114
    Cash to close
    $16,926
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $115

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,264a month

    Down payment
    $13,020
    Cash to close
    $20,832
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $124

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,876a month

    Down payment
    $52,080
    Cash to close
    $59,892
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,116a month

    Down payment
    $39,060
    Cash to close
    $46,872
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Bethlehem and for Northampton County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Bethlehem

1.64%of the home’s value each year

$4,268 a year for the typical owner in Bethlehem.

  • Bethlehem 1.64%
  • Northampton 1.52%
  • Pennsylvania 1.3%

What Pennsylvania publishes Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Pennsylvania

Flood risk in Northampton County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Northampton County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
1,124
Of those, with NFIP insurance
39%
County Pennsylvania U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 39% 23% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Bethlehem

Typical rent in Bethlehem is $1,382 a month: about the same as the county. In Bethlehem, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Northampton County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,839 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.37 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Northampton County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,302 $25.04 $52,080
1 bedroom $1,519 $29.21 $60,760
2 bedrooms $1,839 $35.37 $73,560
3 bedrooms $2,306 $44.35 $92,240
4 bedrooms $2,482 $47.73 $99,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bethlehem

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bethlehem has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,880 in 18015 to $2,220 in 18017.

3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Northampton County ($1,839).

  • 18015 $1,880$2,360
  • 18017 $2,220$2,780
  • 18018 $1,940$2,430

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bethlehem when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Bethlehem

HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bethlehem. These are the largest.

  • Marvine 1302 Marvine St, Bethlehem 18017 389 low-income homes · Run by Bethlehem Housing Authority · Average payment: $612 a month · Average wait: 13 months (610) 865-8357
  • High Rises 645 Main St, Bethlehem 18018 400 homes, 376 low-income · Run by Bethlehem Housing Authority · Average payment: $414 a month · Average wait: 10 months (610) 865-8357
  • Northeast 1107 Marvine St, Bethlehem 18017 366 homes, 365 low-income · Run by Bethlehem Housing Authority · Average payment: $592 a month · Average wait: 31 months (610) 865-8357
  • Park / Lyn 847 Argus Ct, Bethlehem 18015 300 low-income homes · Run by Bethlehem Housing Authority · Average payment: $659 a month · Average wait: 20 months (610) 865-8357
  • Fred B Rooney Building 4 E 4th St, Bethlehem 18015 150 low-income homes · Studio: 42 · 1 bd: 105 · 2 bd: 3 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (610) 868-8101

See all 50 buildings in Northampton County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Bethlehem

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Northampton County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Bethlehem

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bethlehem or Northampton County. The ones below are statewide in Pennsylvania: they work in Bethlehem the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Pennsylvania

Housing counselors near Bethlehem

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Bethlehem, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, Inc.

    1337 E 5th St, Bethlehem · 1 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (610) 691-5620

  • Greater Community Development Corporation

    403 Pastor Fred Davis St, Easton · 9 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (610) 596-1134

  • Bucks County Housing Group

    626 Jacksonville Rd, Warminster · 32 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (215) 394-8259

Every agency in Northampton County All counseling agencies in Pennsylvania

Help in Spanish near Bethlehem

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Bethlehem

HUD’s record names them for Bethlehem or Northampton County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Bethlehem Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 865-8357
  • Northampton County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 965-4514

One other authority has an office in Northampton County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Northampton County

These cities are also in Northampton County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Northampton County Housing in Pennsylvania

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Bethlehem, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Northampton County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Bethlehem.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Bethlehem

Short answers with the numbers for Bethlehem and all of Northampton County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Bethlehem?

The typical home value in Bethlehem is $260,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Northampton County it is $308,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Bethlehem?

Typical rent in Bethlehem is $1,382 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Northampton County is $1,839.

What is the FHA loan limit in Bethlehem?

Bethlehem uses the FHA limit for all of Northampton County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Bethlehem?

The typical homeowner in Bethlehem pays $4,268 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.64% of the home’s value; in Northampton County, the rate is 1.52%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bethlehem?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Northampton County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).