Home Insurance in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The median home value in Bethlehem is $260,400, 16% lower than the Northampton County median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Bethlehem was built around 1957. About 56% of homes were built before 1960, about 15 points above Northampton County's 41%.
The housing stock in Bethlehem is 64% single-family homes and 23% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 59% of owner-occupied homes in Bethlehem have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 4%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 50% of occupied homes in Bethlehem are owner-occupied.
In Bethlehem, 45% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Northampton County had 775 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is winter weather (Relatively High). See the full Northampton County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
In Pennsylvania, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,217 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $260,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1957 |
| Owner-occupied share | 50% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 59% |
| Top county hazard | Winter Weather (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Northampton County | 775 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,217 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)