Bethlehem 75 Excellent
Bethlehem Livability #22 ranked city in West Virginia#3,689 ranked city in the USARanks better than 87% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Bethlehem

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

What's it like Living in Bethlehem?

Located in the state of West Virginia, Bethlehem is a small city with a population of 2,554 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 96% of Bethlehem residents are White, 2% Asian and 0% Black. Bethlehem has a high percentage of people who are married with children when compared to the rest of the country. In total, more than 72% of the population is classified as married and 36% have kids. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Bethlehem will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 19 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Bethlehem could be a positive experience compared to other cities in West Virginia if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Bethlehem and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, education and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 75 out of 100, Bethlehem is ranked #3,846 in the United States and #25 in West Virginia. Clearly, Bethlehem is doing something right, as this score ranks well above the average of most cities. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Bethlehem ranks very well for crime (A+), cost of living (A-), employment (B) and housing (A+). Unfortunately for Bethlehem, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Bethlehem can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Assuming that Bethlehem meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Bethlehem. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Bethlehem are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Bethlehem come in at $301,975, which is 57.1% higher than the West Virginia average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Bethlehem, the home price to income ratio is 2.9, which is 6.5% lower than the West Virginia average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Bethlehem

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Bethlehem?

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      Bethlehem transportation information

      Statistic Bethlehem West Virginia National
      Average one way commute19min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work91.5%82.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.1%9.9%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%2.9%2.8%
      Working from home3.3%3.1%4.6%
      Source: The Bethlehem, WV data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.