How old are the homes in Bethlehem Township, PA?

32.7% (±3.6 points) of the homes in Bethlehem Township, PA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

5.4% were built before 1940.

14.6% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
32.7% (±3.6 points)
Built before 1940
5.4%
Built 2010 or later
14.6%

When the homes in Bethlehem Township were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtBethlehem TownshipNorthampton CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
2020 or later2.5% (±1.0 points)1.1%1.0%2.0%
2010 to 201912.1% (±2.6 points)6.2%5.1%9.4%
2000 to 200912.9% (±3.4 points)12.0%8.1%13.6%
1990 to 199919.6% (±3.2 points)9.9%8.9%12.4%
1980 to 198920.1% (±2.4 points)10.6%9.6%12.9%
1970 to 197912.1% (±2.0 points)11.3%12.4%14.2%
1960 to 19695.6% (±1.5 points)8.2%9.9%9.9%
1950 to 19597.5% (±1.8 points)9.9%13.0%9.5%
1940 to 19492.1% (±1.0 points)4.6%7.0%4.4%
1939 or earlier5.4% (±1.5 points)26.2%25.0%11.7%

In Bethlehem Township, the share of homes built before 1980 is lower than in Northampton County (60.2%).

It is also lower than in Pennsylvania (67.3%).

It is lower than the national figure (49.7%).

In Northampton County, Bethlehem Township ranks 35 of 38 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 2469 of 2,558.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (20.6%) and the share built before 1980 (32.7%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Bethlehem Township

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Bethlehem Township
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
Bethlehem Township—32.7% (±3.6 points)—
Old Orchard2.8 mi93.5% (±21.4 points)Higher
Freemansburg2.9 mi49.3% (±11.1 points)Higher
Lower Nazareth Township2.9 mi43.1% (±9.7 points)Higher
Palmer Heights3.0 mi75.4% (±12.5 points)Higher
Palmer Township3.7 mi50.7% (±5.5 points)Higher
Bethlehem3.9 mi79.4% (±3.7 points)Higher
Glendon3.9 mi84.9% (±21.4 points)Higher
Wilson4.0 mi87.8% (±11.7 points)Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Old Orchard, PA (93.5%), Freemansburg, PA (49.3%), Lower Nazareth Township, PA (43.1%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Northampton County, place by place

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
29Washington Township (Northampton County)50.6% (±11.8 points)
30Freemansburg49.3% (±11.1 points)
31Lower Nazareth Township43.1% (±9.7 points)
32Bushkill Township41.7% (±8.0 points)
33Williams Township (Northampton County)37.1% (±9.4 points)
34Allen Township35.8% (±10.9 points)
35Bethlehem Township32.7% (±3.6 points)
36Hanover Township (Northampton County)32.0% (±4.8 points)
37Upper Nazareth Township30.6% (±7.8 points)
38Forks Township (Northampton County)20.3% (±4.9 points)

Showing 10 of 38 places in Northampton County, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for Bethlehem Township include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Middletown (community).

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Bethlehem Township

How old are most homes in Bethlehem Township?

32.7% of homes in Bethlehem Township, PA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Bethlehem Township need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 20.6% and 32.7% of homes in Bethlehem Township were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Bethlehem Township?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Bethlehem township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania (county subdivision:06096, in state:42 county:095).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.

Figures last updated on .

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