What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spring has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Spring	Bethlehem
People
Population	28,601Highest	26,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+9%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	42.2±2.3Highest 3% above PA	41.9±2.6Lowest about the PA average
	Spring and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2Highest PA: 20.4%	19.3%±2.4Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Spring and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.8Lowest PA: 19.5%	21.5%±1.8Highest PA: 19.5%
	Bethlehem and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.5%Lowest PA: 35.2%	46.6%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.1Highest PA: 6.1%	6.5%±0.8Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Spring and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,837±$10kLowest 22% above PA	$119,050±$13kHighest 53% above PA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,900±$11kLowest 13% above PA	$376,500±$11kHighest 48% above PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,416±$95Lowest 17% above PA	$1,794±$99Highest 48% above PA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,603Lowest 39% above PA	$6,126Highest 85% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.3%±13Highest PA: 48.2%	41.4%±8.8Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Spring and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1% PA: 11.7%	5.1% PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest PA: 69.3%	81.7%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 10 yrs newer than PA	1989Highest 24 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below PA	26 minHighest about the PA average
Work from home	14.9%±2.2Lowest PA: 15.6%	15.9%±2.2Highest PA: 15.6%
	Bethlehem and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#365 of 764 in PA	#565 of 764 in PA
School district	Wilson SD	Bethlehem Area SD · Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School
High school in town	Wilson HS	Freedom HS
Students per teacherat that high school	16.1Lowest	16.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.