Bethlehem, PA · standard
ZIP Code 18020
Northampton County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,447
- 571/sq mi High-density area
- $126,166
- Median income Above-median income area
- $370,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 42.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bethlehem pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 8%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 571
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18020 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 18020 (Bethlehem, PA) rose +5.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 242.4 in 2023 to 256.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 18020 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, with 20,447 residents across 35.8 square miles, a density of 571 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 18020 skews affluent, with a median household income of $126,166 (62% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $56,266. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 5.0% and unemployment is 3.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $370,200 (63% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while 85.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,534.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 42.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Northampton County, so 18020 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 18020
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bethlehem, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18020.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
69 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
59 establishments
- Construction
Construction
48 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
45 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
45 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 18020, Bethlehem, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
20,447
Population
35.8
Area (sq mi)
571
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 18020?
42.8
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
8.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$126,166
Median Household Income
+62% vs state ZIP avg
$56,266
Per Capita Income
5.0%
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Unemployment Rate
25.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18020 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Bethlehem, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$126,166 Top 6% higher than 94% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
7,961housing units
7,961
Total Housing Units
7,791
Occupied Units
170
Vacant Units
2.63
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$370,200
Median Home Value
+63% vs state ZIP avg
$1,534
Median Rent
1986
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+5.9%
YoY Change (2024)
257
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+157%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 18020 have increased 5.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.5% | 172 |
| 2021 | +11.4% | 192 |
| 2022 | +13.7% | 219 |
| 2023 | +10.9% | 242 |
| 2024 | +5.9% | 257 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 520 business establishments in ZIP 18020, employing approximately 10,490 people with a combined annual payroll of $566,594,000.
520
Businesses
10,490
Employees
$566.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 69 | 13.3% |
| Retail trade | 59 | 11.3% |
| Construction | 48 | 9.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 45 | 8.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 45 | 8.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 42 | 8.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 41 | 7.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 32 | 6.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 32 | 6.2% |
| Manufacturing | 29 | 5.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 25 | 4.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 25 | 4.8% |
| Educational services | 11 | 2.1% |
| Information | 8 | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 18020 vs 18017 →
ZIP 18020 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18042
Easton (18042)
41,570 residents
- 18017
Bethlehem (18017)
37,549 residents
- 18015
Bethlehem (18015)
32,832 residents
- 18018
Bethlehem (18018)
32,413 residents
- 18045
Easton (18045)
26,391 residents
- 18064
Nazareth (18064)
24,073 residents
- 18020
Bethlehem (18020)
20,447 residents
- 18055 11,780
Hellertown (18055)
11,780 residents
- 18085 1,119
Tatamy (18085)
1,119 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18020 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18020 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18020
Bethlehem (18020)
$126,166 median income
- 18045
Easton (18045)
$114,528 median income
- 18085
Tatamy (18085)
$112,813 median income
- 18064
Nazareth (18064)
$103,393 median income
- 18083
Stockertown (18083)
$99,688 median income
- 18017
Bethlehem (18017)
$91,173 median income
- 18055
Hellertown (18055)
$90,234 median income
- 18042
Easton (18042)
$77,556 median income
- 18018
Bethlehem (18018)
$75,417 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 18020 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18017 | Bethlehem, PA | 37,549 | 3.3 mi |
| 18045 | Easton, PA | 26,391 | 3.1 mi |
| 18064 | Nazareth, PA | 24,073 | 5.9 mi |
| 18016 | Bethlehem, PA | 0 | 4.4 mi |
| 18055 | Hellertown, PA | 11,780 | 5.9 mi |
| 18018 | Bethlehem, PA | 32,413 | 4.7 mi |
| 18042 | Easton, PA | 41,570 | 5.6 mi |
| 18015 | Bethlehem, PA | 32,832 | 6.1 mi |
| 18085 | Tatamy, PA | 1,119 | 6.1 mi |
| 18083 | Stockertown, PA | 530 | 6.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18020, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,447 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Northampton County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 18020 in?
ZIP code 18020 (Bethlehem) is located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Northampton County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/northampton-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 18020?
ZIP code 18020 in Bethlehem, PA has a population of 20,447 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18020?
The median household income in ZIP 18020 is $126,166, which is 65% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18020?
The median home value in ZIP 18020 is $370,200, which is 33% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18020?
The largest racial group in ZIP 18020 is White at 72.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 16.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18020?
ZIP code 18020 has 520 business establishments employing approximately 10,490 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18020?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18020 are: Health care and social assistance (69), Retail trade (59), Construction (48). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18020?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18020 increased by 5.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 18020?
In ZIP code 18020, 70.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 42.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 18020?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18020 is 25.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 18020?
In ZIP code 18020, approximately 85.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18020?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18020 is 5.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 18020's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18020 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bethlehem, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.