Compare towns
Spring vs Unity vs Sinking Spring vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Pennsylvania.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 48).
Sinking Spring has the most renters (44.4% rent).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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.
| Measure | Spring | Unity | Sinking Spring | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,601Highest |
21,419 |
4,281Lowest |
26,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% PA: +2.4% |
-4.4%Lowest PA: +2.4% |
+6.9% PA: +2.4% |
+9%Highest PA: +2.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.3 3% above PA |
48±1.4Highest 17% above PA |
38.3±4.5Lowest 6% below PA |
41.9±2.6 about the PA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2 PA: 20.4% |
17.6%±2Lowest PA: 20.4% |
22.8%±4.7Highest PA: 20.4% |
19.3%±2.4 PA: 20.4% |
| Sinking Spring and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.8 PA: 19.5% |
25.4%±2.5Highest PA: 19.5% |
17.4%±5.7Lowest PA: 19.5% |
21.5%±1.8 PA: 19.5% |
| Unity and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.5% PA: 35.2% |
41.2% PA: 35.2% |
34.1%Lowest PA: 35.2% |
46.6%Highest PA: 35.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.1 PA: 6.1% |
9.1%±1Highest PA: 6.1% |
6.5%±3.7Lowest PA: 6.1% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest PA: 6.1% |
| Unity and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,837±$10k 22% above PA |
$75,448±$6kLowest 3% below PA |
$82,500±$21k 6% above PA |
$119,050±$13kHighest 53% above PA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,900±$11k 13% above PA |
$245,400±$14kLowest 4% below PA |
$283,200±$11k 11% above PA |
$376,500±$11kHighest 48% above PA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,416±$95 17% above PA |
$986±$74Lowest 18% below PA |
$1,342±$202 11% above PA |
$1,794±$99Highest 48% above PA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,603 39% above PA |
$3,113Lowest 6% below PA |
$4,994 51% above PA |
$6,126Highest 85% above PA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.3%±13 PA: 48.2% |
33.3%±9.6Lowest PA: 48.2% |
51.2%±19Highest PA: 48.2% |
41.4%±8.8 PA: 48.2% |
| Sinking Spring and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest PA: 11.7% |
11.2%Highest PA: 11.7% |
7.8% PA: 11.7% |
5.1%Lowest PA: 11.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% PA: 69.3% |
82%Highest PA: 69.3% |
55.6%Lowest PA: 69.3% |
81.7% PA: 69.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 10 yrs newer than PA |
1973Lowest 8 yrs newer than PA |
1973Lowest 8 yrs newer than PA |
1989Highest 24 yrs newer than PA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below PA |
23 min 11% below PA |
23 minLowest 12% below PA |
26 minHighest about the PA average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.2 PA: 15.6% |
11.8%±2.7 PA: 15.6% |
11.6%±4.4Lowest 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 | #415 of 764 in PA | — | #565 of 764 in PA |
| School district | Wilson SD | Dr Robert Ketterer CS Inc · Greater Latrobe SD | — | Bethlehem Area SD · Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School |
| High school in town | Wilson HS | Greater Latrobe SHS | — | Freedom HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Lowest |
16.9Highest |
— | 16.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.