Living in Bethlehem, PA: Historic Homes, Universities and What to Check

In short: Living in Bethlehem means city life with a lot of history. You can walk the Moravian historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, go to concerts and Musikfest at SteelStacks, and find restaurants, parks and trails along the Lehigh River. Lehigh University and Moravian University are here, Route 22 and I-78 are minutes away, and New York City is about 1.5 to 2 hours by car.

Where Bethlehem is

Bethlehem is a city in the Lehigh Valley, between Allentown to the west and Easton to the east. Most of the city is in Northampton County, and its west side is in Lehigh County. The Lehigh River runs through the middle of town, with the historic downtown on the north side and SteelStacks on the South Side.

Market numbers

Single-family homes (detached and twins), townhouses and condos sold in the City of Bethlehem (Northampton and Lehigh County parts), October 2025 to September 2026. Source: Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® MLS, pulled October 2026.

Homes and communities

• Historic rowhomes, twins and Victorian homes on the North Side and the South Side
• Single-family homes in established neighborhoods
• Newer homes and townhomes in the townships around the city, such as Bethlehem Township and Hanover Township
• Multi-unit homes and rentals near the universities

Ryth's take

In my opinion, what Bethlehem has is opportunity and a good quality of life. It is an opportunity for investors, because long-term rentals work very well here, and for work, because there are more job opportunities than in many of the areas around it. And it is a good place to live, with colleges and universities, restaurants, parks and a lot of history.

Getting around

• US Route 22 and Route 378 connect the city with Allentown and Easton, and I-78 runs along the south edge of town.
• Lehigh Valley International Airport is about 10 minutes away.
• New York City is about 80 miles away (roughly 1.5 to 2 hours), and Philadelphia about 60 miles (roughly 1 hour 15 minutes).

What to check before you buy

• The water service line. Look up the address on the city's Service Line Inventory map, which shows what the water line to the home is made of, on both the city side and the private side, so you know before you buy whether it is lead.
• Help with the down payment. If you have not owned a home in the past three years and your household income qualifies, the city's Bethlehem Homebuyer Assistance Program can cover up to 10% of the price for the down payment, plus closing costs, as a 0% loan forgiven over 10 years. You apply once you have a signed agreement of sale for a home inside the city.
• Historic district rules. In Bethlehem's historic districts, exterior changes such as windows, doors, roofing, paint colors and fences go to the Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) and then City Council before the city issues a permit. If you plan to renovate the outside, check this first.
• Which county, and which municipality. The county tax depends on whether the home is on the Northampton or the Lehigh side. A "Bethlehem" mailing address can also be in Bethlehem Township or Hanover Township, which have their own taxes and rules.
• Rental licenses, if you are buying to rent. Every rental unit in the city needs a yearly license and is inspected every three years, and a unit rented to 3 to 5 unrelated people needs a separate regulated rental license.
• Older homes. Homes built before 1978 come with a lead-based paint disclosure, and older wiring, plumbing and foundations deserve a careful inspection.
• Flood zones near the Lehigh River and Monocacy Creek.
• The homestead exclusion. Once the home is your main residence, apply to the county for Pennsylvania's homestead exclusion, which lowers your school property taxes. The yearly deadline is March 1.

Sources

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Moravian Church Settlements
• City of Bethlehem: changes to the resale inspection rules (PDF)
• City of Bethlehem: rental licensing
• City of Bethlehem: lead service lines
• City of Bethlehem: homebuyer assistance program
• Northampton County Assessment Office: homestead exclusion application

What clients say

I have never met someone so willing to go the extra mile for his clients. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Ryth — thanks to his dedication, guidance, and hard work, I was able to close on my dream home. Ryth is young, but he is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and always willing to help.

For me it has been a great pleasure working with Ryth, a young man who showed great wisdom and helped us find the property we were looking for under the desired conditions. Thank you for everything — we are very happy with his work.

Questions

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