$266,038Average Value$172Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
No longer known for steel, other industries bring workers to South Bethlehem
Sandwiched between Hellertown and the vibrant historic South Side of Bethlehem, South Bethlehem is a mish-mash of industry and education, with limited housing opportunities. As large as the neighborhood is, much of that ground is taken up by the extensive Lehigh University campus, as well as the distribution centers looking to make use of the convenient location along Route 78. These are busy neighbors, and have an impact on the neighborhood – there are plenty of student rentals, and the traffic of the distribution centers runs around the clock. However, they are major jobs providers for the region, Lindsey Kleinberg, long-time resident and President of the nearby Emmaus Arts Commission says, “There are a lot of great places that bring people here to work - Lehigh Valley Health Network and St Luke’s, factories, lots of distribution centers.”
I-78 is a major highway connecting South Bethlehem with Allentown to the west.
South Bethlehem is notable as being the home of Lehigh University, a major engineering college.
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Eclectic housing options
The neighborhood is varied due to the housing being scattered around the fringes, and it mixes apartments and other rentals in liberally. A number of homes across the northern edge of South Bethlehem are set into the mountainside, featuring single-car garages that sit at street level while the rest of the home – often featuring Dutch and other European design influence – sits above it. Those without garages have concrete stairs and retaining walls. Flatlands around the other portions of the neighborhood lead to more conservative homes with traditional and Colonial features, while town houses and apartment complexes fit to the same motif. Most homes in the neighborhood sell for between $175,000 and $375,000, although new builds can break through to $500,000 and above.
Being situated near South Mountain calls for homes to have long stairs leading to the street.
South Bethlehem has many home styles including these unusual colonial rowhomes.
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Lots of extracurricular opportunities in the Bethlehem Area School District
The community’s students may start out at one of three Bethlehem Area School District elementary schools – Freemansburg, Fountain Hill or Donegan Elementary, all rated a C-plus by Niche. From there, students may move on to either Broughal Middle School and then to Liberty High School, rated C-plus and B respectively, or to East Hills Middle School followed by Freedom High School, both earning a B grade. Liberty High School still operates on the same campus that opened in 1922, once hailed as “one of the greatest achievements of the City of Bethlehem.” Freedom, meanwhile, is home of The Freedom Forum student newspaper that has received national accolades over the years.
Exterior of Freemansburg Elementary School a K-5 school serving approximately 350 students
Freedom High School offers a large and safe campus for children to excel in learning.
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A highly commutable area, with plenty within reach
A handful of bus routes service the South Bethlehem neighborhood, but most residents will need a car – it’s not walkable, nor is it bikeable, and amenities require traveling outside of the neighborhood. However, as Kleinberg points out, the nearby highway network is a boon for the area - “Lehigh Valley is so easy for commuters, it’s had a huge boom in the last few years with people moving from Philly, Baltimore and New York.” Lehigh Valley International Airport, with commercial service around the region to hub airports, is roughly 10 miles outside of the neighborhood. Emergency care, meanwhile, is less than 10 minutes away for most residents, with St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem Campus just outside of the neighborhood.
Lanta buses run regularly along Pierce St and other places throughout South Bethlehem.
St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus is a major healthcare center for South Bethlehem.
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Limited offerings within the neighborhood, but options nearby
Within the neighborhood, Machu Picchu Peruvian is the star, serving traditional roast chicken with yucca fries and arroz chaufa. National chain spots are prevalent, although nearby Hellertown offers the opportunity to eat at interesting locally owned joints like Vassi’s Drive-In. Most residents are served by small, local grocery stores like CTown Supermarket and Rite-stop Deli and Grocery, while retail is limited – residents will need to head out of the area and into Hellertown or across the river into the heart of Bethlehem for their everyday needs.
Locals grab a bite at Machu Picchu Peruvian on Fourth Street in South Bethlehem.
CTown Market is a locally-owned, favorite grocery spot for shoppers in South Bethlehem.
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Baseball is big in the region
While the neighborhood is home to the forested hillsides of South Mountain, much of it falls under the purview of Lehigh University and is off-limits. Instead, residents may head to Saucon Park, home to three baseball diamonds as well as a soccer field, walking trail and a playground. Further up Saucon Creek, itself a prime spot for fishing, Southside Little League has their home fields with three more baseball diamonds.
Saucon Park in the South Bethlehem neighborhood features picnicking, soccer, and softball fields
A South Bethlehem fisherman wades through the shallow waters of Saucon Creek.
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Events take residents to town
The expansiveness of the neighborhood means that residents head out in different directions for holidays and events. Some may make the short trip north to the SteelStacks, and enjoy the Bethlehem MusikFest or the annual Cristkindlmarkt, while others find Hellertown’s spooky Halloween parade to be up their alley. Lehigh University also hosts numerous events throughout the year, from homecoming and football games to artists and musicians, many of which are open to the public.
A pastel-hued sculpture greets visitors to Lehigh University's Zoellner Arts Center.
The old Bethlehem Steel Plant has been repurposed as Steel Stacks, an unique outdoor venue.
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Mountain Hawks soar high
Founded in 1865, Lehigh University spreads thousands of students across its three campus locations, all in South Bethlehem. This means plenty of traffic for the neighborhood as students go about their business, and it can be even busier when the Philadelphia Eagles set up training camp in the summer on the Mountain Hawks’ field. Kleinberg notes that Lehigh is part of the unique Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges where “they have a reciprocity program, children and spouses can go to school or take classes at any of the six colleges in the valley if their parent works at one of them.” It’s a unique educational opportunity that is a rare find in the college world.
Lehigh's Goodman Stadium is quiet now but will come alive as the fall football season arrives.
Lehigh's Mountaintop Campus is a major technological hub based high above South Bethlehem.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Joe McGavin,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
South Mountain Park
Basketball
Grills
Picnic Area
Martin Luther king Jr park
Picnic Area
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Water Street Park
Basketball
Grills
Picnic Area
Saucon Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Lake
Grist Mill Park
Baseball/Softball
Fishing
Lake
Fountain Hill Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Bethlehem Skateplaza
Transit
Airport
Lehigh Valley International
19 min drive
Bus
3419 Commerce
Bus
2785 Commerce Eb
Bus
2785 Commerce Wb
Bus
4th & Hill Eb
Bus
Argus & Lynfield
Bus
Commerce & Gilchrist Wb
Bus
4th & Hayes Eb
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
South Bethlehem
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Bethlehem, Bethlehem sell after 23 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in South Bethlehem, Bethlehem over the last 12 months is $303,281, up 10% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Explore the unique opportunity to own this expansive, shovel-ready vacant land, spanning over 13,000 sq. ft., perfect for your custom home project. With approved plans in place for a stunning two-floor twin home, this property is ideal for builders and homeowners alike who envision a spacious and modern residence. Each unit of the planned twin home features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, designed
Explore the unique opportunity to own this expansive, shovel-ready vacant land, spanning over 13,000 sq. ft., perfect for your custom home project. With approved plans in place for a stunning two-floor twin home, this property is ideal for builders and homeowners alike who envision a spacious and modern residence. Each unit of the planned twin home features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, designed
Explore the unique opportunity to own this expansive, shovel-ready vacant land, spanning over 13,000 sq. ft., perfect for your custom home project. With approved plans in place for a stunning two-floor twin home, this property is ideal for builders and homeowners alike who envision a spacious and modern residence. Each unit of the planned twin home features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, designed
Saucon View offers high quality, beautifully-appointed apartments in an ideal location. Our apartments in Bethlehem, PA offer on-site luxury apartment amenities that make our community the perfect destination for the lifestyle you deserve.
LARGE FOUR BEDROOM/ONE BATH Row close to WindCreek Casino and Lehigh University. Updated kitchen and bathroom is a bonus. Large laundry room for convenience. Bonus room in walk out basement. Tenant to pay electric, gas heat, water/sewer and trash. This home provides lots of space and storage. Electric is on solar so lots of savings with your electric bills! Schedule your showing today!
Saucon Square is a newly constructed luxury 33 unit multifamily development located in the City of Bethlehem. This picturesque site is less than one mile from I-78, walking distance to Hellertown Park, Ride bus terminal with transportation to NYC, and the 250 acre Saucon Park, of which, includes picnic areas, swimming pool, pavilions, and ball parks. It is also near historic downtown Bethlehem
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Joe McGavin,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
7,271
Median Age
29
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$46,674
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$73,206
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.5%
College Graduates
29.5%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
13%
% Population in Labor Force
55%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
48''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
21''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
15/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
13/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
29/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
