Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Bethlehem Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Bethlehem Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,743 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,439 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.6% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bethlehem is about 11% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Bethlehem (4.4%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Bethlehem earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania grew by 54.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,743 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bethlehem
| Metric | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.551 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,294 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,234 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.2% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bethlehem, it is 0.551, higher than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $387,100 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 28% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,926 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.2% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,679 people are unemployed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Bethlehem is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has fallen from 8.9% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.2% in 2019.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Pennsylvania, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
Bethlehem has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,743, about 11% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
Are incomes growing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania rose 55%, from $45,024 to $69,743. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Pennsylvania as a whole: +55% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Bethlehem in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was $67,165, up 7% from $62,642 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Bethlehem in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was $55,787. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $69,743.
Is it hard to find a job in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is 6.6%, well above the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Bethlehem is 0.551. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 28% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,926 since 2009.
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