Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Bethlehem is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns
Bethlehem differs from Pennsylvania on 6 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bethlehem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bethlehem
1 in 9 working-age adults in Bethlehem has no health insurance
11.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Bethlehem
Grades next door run from Bethlehem Township (A−) to Allentown (D). Bethlehem is a C+. Around town ↓
Bethlehem has a community health center but no hospital
Neighborhood Health Centers of Lehigh Valley is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is St. Lukes Hospital, 1.7 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’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Bethlehem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethlehem is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns, #749 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 60% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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’s median household income is $68,879; among the 10,441 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bethlehem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Bethlehem and the towns around it
Bethlehem’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 9 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 | C+ | 34.8% | 11.8% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Hanover Township | B | 33.2% | 12.4% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| Lower Saucon Township | B | 32.8% | 10.9% | 15.1% | ZIP codes |
| Hellertown | B | 33.2% | 11.1% | 17% | CDC place |
| Hanover Township | C− | 37.6% | 13.6% | 17.4% | ZIP 18109 |
| Bethlehem Township | A− | 31.3% | 10.8% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Freemansburg | B | 35.6% | 10.4% | 16% | CDC place |
| Salisbury Township | B− | 34.5% | 11.6% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Bethlehem
2 community health centers in Bethlehem, 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; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Bethlehem adults…
Bethlehem runs below PA on 1 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.
18 miles of trails across 39 parks and preserves
How Bethlehem adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Bethlehem runs above 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bethlehem adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bethlehem
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bethlehem is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Bethlehem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bethlehem | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.9–23.7 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%13–15.7 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.7–19.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%29.6–40 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.5–13.1 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.1%28.1–34 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.5%29.4–35.6 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.4%26.8–32 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%7–8.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.6%10.7–14.8 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.4–17.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27%23.7–30.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.7–21.3 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%32.4–42.2 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%10.3–13 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%73.9–80 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.4%56.3–62.5 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.3–84 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.5–79.2 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%61.8–69.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%70.5–81.4 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20.4–26.2 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%32–38.8 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%13.6–16.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.6–18.8 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.6 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.2–7.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.9–10.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.2–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
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
Is Bethlehem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethlehem is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #749 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bethlehem?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 40%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bethlehem?
St. Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Bethlehem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bethlehem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13%), 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 more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bethlehem.
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.