City Comparison
State College vs Bethlehem
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Bethlehem scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
State College
Bethlehem
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Bethlehem is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
2% lower than in State College.
| Metric | State College | Bethlehem | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,850 | $1,800 | +3% |
| Groceries | $450 | $450 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $227 | -21% |
| Transport | $120 | $60 | +100% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,850 | $2,787 | +2% |
| Cost Index | 119 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
State College offers 32% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, State College delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in State College is estimated at
$55,000 vs $55,000 in Bethlehem.
| Metric | State College | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 54,622 idx | 51,869 idx |
| Household Income | $45,424 | $68,879 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.8°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — State College sees 0.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | State College | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.40°F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | 81.70°F | 82.90°F |
| Winter Low | 19.40°F | 22.70°F |
| Rainfall | 36.10 in | 39.40 in |
| Snowfall | 18.60 in | 18.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 244 | 249 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
State College has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Bethlehem.
State College scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, State College leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | State College | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 16 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Bethlehem is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of State College.
From a growth perspective, Bethlehem is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bethlehem has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | State College | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,050 | 80,563 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.21% | 1.15% |
| Median Age | 21.2 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
State College
Advantages
High walkability score, with many errands accomplishable on foot in the downtown area.
Strong educational environment due to the presence of Pennsylvania State University.
Vibrant cultural scene with numerous festivals, arts events, and entertainment venues.
Lower than national average violent crime rate, contributing to a generally safe environment.
Affordable home care options compared to the state average.
Drawbacks
Cost of living is higher than the national average, primarily driven by housing costs.
The median age in the borough is very low (21.2), indicating a significant student population which may influence the city's overall character and services.
While the borough is walkable, surrounding areas may have higher car dependency.
Crime rate is higher than the Pennsylvania state average, though lower than the national average for some metrics.
Median household income in the borough is significantly lower than the national average.
Bethlehem
Advantages
Bethlehem's population is projected to grow by 1.15% annually in 2026, indicating a growing and dynamic community.
The median household income in Bethlehem was $68,879 in 2024, showing a 3.67% one-year growth.
The average rent in Bethlehem is 5% below the national average as of September 2026, making it a more affordable place to live.
The median property value in Bethlehem increased by 10.1% in 2024, suggesting a healthy real estate market for homeowners.
The cost of home care in Bethlehem is approximately 16% lower than the Pennsylvania average and 22% lower than the national average as of September 2026.
Drawbacks
The poverty rate in Bethlehem was 15.69% in 2026.
While rent is generally affordable, it has increased by 3.4% in the past year as of September 2026.
The median individual income in Bethlehem was $36,225 in 2024, which is lower than the median household income.
Home prices fell about 2.4% a year between 2015 and 2024, an unusual pattern compared to rising rents.
The percentage of uninsured citizens in Bethlehem grew by 5.37% between 2023 and 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
State College
#576Pennsylvania, USA
46.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,850
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
119
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
244/yr
Avg Temp
50.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.21%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
86
Business
68
Bethlehem
#295Pennsylvania, USA
61.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
95
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.15%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
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