Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Bethlehem Township is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Bethlehem Township beats Pennsylvania on 8 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 18020, 18045. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bethlehem Township
Against towns with similar incomes, Bethlehem Township’s lead shrinks
Bethlehem Township is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, but 60% of the 5,876 towns with similar household incomes ($89K–$149K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Bethlehem Township has a community health center but no hospital
Star Community Health is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is St. Luke's Hospital - Easton Campus in Easton, 4 miles away. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Pennsylvania figure falls outside Bethlehem Township’s likely range; Bethlehem Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 18020, 18045, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Bethlehem Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethlehem Township is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #193 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 85% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 67%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bethlehem Township’s median household income is $119,050; among the 5,876 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($89K–$149K), it’s healthier than 60%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Bethlehem Township
1 community health center in Bethlehem Township, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bethlehem Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Bethlehem Township adults…
Bethlehem Township runs below PA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bethlehem Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
How Bethlehem Township adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Bethlehem Township does better than Pennsylvania.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Bethlehem Township and the towns around it
Bethlehem Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Township | A− | 31.3% | 10.8% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Middletown | — | — | — | — | |
| Freemansburg | B | 35.6% | 10.4% | 16% | CDC place |
| Lower Saucon Township | B | 32.8% | 10.9% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
| Bethlehem | C+ | 34.8% | 11.8% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Lower Nazareth Township | A− | 31.2% | 10.7% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Palmer Township | A− | 31% | 10.9% | 12.2% | ZIP 18045 |
| Easton | C+ | 35.9% | 11% | 17.3% | CDC place |
Middletown: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bethlehem Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bethlehem Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bethlehem Township is better than Pennsylvania on 8 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Bethlehem Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bethlehem Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%13.9–17.9 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.9–16.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.3%25–37.9 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.2–12.5 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%27.8–35.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%30.5–39 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28–35.5 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.3–7.8 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.6%5.9–7.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.6–10.4 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11.2–14.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.9%17.4–24.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.3%15.8–23.1 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%28.4–40.7 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%5.3–7.3 | 5.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.2–82.4 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%66.5–73.4 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.2%86.2–90 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77–83.1 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.8%66–75.2 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.3%72.2–85.2 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%17.6–24.4 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.3%25.4–33.3 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%10.9–14.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.7–13.7 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.2 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%6–7.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bethlehem Township
Is Bethlehem Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethlehem Township is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #193 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 60%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bethlehem Township?
CDC estimates 31.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 25% and 37.9%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bethlehem Township?
St. Luke's Hospital - Easton Campus in Easton, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Bethlehem Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bethlehem Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–7.3%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bethlehem Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bethlehem Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.