PlainZIP

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
$126,166
Median income
$370,200
Median home value
42.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $56,266. The poverty rate stands at 5.0% and the unemployment rate at 3.0%. Median home value sits at $370,200 (63% above the state average), median rent at $1,534 a month, and owner-occupancy at 85.8%.

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. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Northampton County, letting you compare 18020 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 18020?

42.8

Median Age

48.3%

Male

51.7%

Female

8.5%

Foreign-Born

White 72.5%
African American 6.3%
Asian 4.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.6%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%

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

$56,266

Per Capita Income

5.0%

Poverty Rate

3.0%

Unemployment Rate

25.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 18020 ranks nationally

Bethlehem, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$126,166 Top 8% higher than 92% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 70.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 42.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

7,961

Total Housing Units

7,791

Occupied Units

170

Vacant Units

2.63

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 85.8%
Renter 14.2%

$370,200

Median Home Value

+63% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18020 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 18020 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

More ZIP Codes in Northampton County

18042 standard
Easton, PA
Pop: 41,570
18017 standard
Bethlehem, PA
Pop: 37,549
18015 standard
Bethlehem, PA
Pop: 32,832
18045 standard
Easton, PA
Pop: 26,391
18064 standard
Nazareth, PA
Pop: 24,073
18067 standard
Northampton, PA
Pop: 17,852

Related Areas

Northampton County Bethlehem, PA Pennsylvania

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.