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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Bethlehem

North Carolina · 3,713 residents · 7.63 sq mi
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The short version

Bethlehem is a city of 3,713 people in North Carolina. 84% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 34% more than in North Carolina as a whole. At a median age of 39.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The poverty rate is 5.0%, under the national 12.4%. The population is up 16% since 1990.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 39.1
US median: 35.2
Average education
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

3,713
+16%since 1990
from 3,200 in 1990
1990 – 2024
39.1
+11%since 1990
from 35.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
7.63 sq mi
Population, 19902024
3K4K4K5K5K19902000201020202024Bethlehem
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.2%(230)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.1%(263)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.5%(243)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.8%(217)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.3%(158)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.9%(478)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417.6%(652)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5417.7%(658)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6411.6%(432)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.5%(278)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.2%(83)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.6%(21)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$52,443
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,198 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$28,537
+79%since 1990
from $15,940 in 1990
US average: $21,522
5.0%
−2.8 ptssince 1990
from 7.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$126,400
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $81,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$442
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $340 in 1990
US average: $602
83.6%
+3.1 ptssince 1990
from 80.6% in 1990
16.4% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.4%(3,182)
Black0.3%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(30)
Asian0.3%(8)
2000
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(3,560)
Black0.5%(17)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(66)
Asian1.4%(52)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Honduran1.1%(44)
Asian origin
Chinese3.5%(142)
Asian Indian2.7%(112)
Ancestry
German25.6%(1,051)
American20%(822)
Irish9.7%(397)
English8.2%(335)
Scotch-Irish7.6%(311)
Polish3.3%(134)
Scottish2%(84)
French1.2%(50)
Italian1.1%(46)
Swedish0.8%(32)
Czech0.4%(17)
Slovak0.4%(15)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Dutch0.2%(8)
Section 05

Education

21.4%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 19.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
83.2%
+5.5 ptssince 1990
from 77.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
6.2%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 4.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.0 min
−29%since 1990
from 18.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married18.5%(276)
Married72.3%(1,080)
Widowed1.7%(26)
Divorced7.4%(111)
Women 15+
Never married11.7%(176)
Married72.7%(1,093)
Widowed7.2%(108)
Divorced8.4%(126)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

5.8%
−7.5 ptssince 2013
from 13.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
68.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2020
from 60.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
32.3%
+5.8 ptssince 2020
from 26.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
15.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 3.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
78.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 75.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
42.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2020
from 34.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22.4%(65)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)37.9%(110)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era47.2%(137)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 290 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bethlehem, North Carolina?

Bethlehem, North Carolina has about 3,713 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Bethlehem, North Carolina?

The typical household in Bethlehem, North Carolina earns about $52,443 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bethlehem, North Carolina expensive?

In Bethlehem, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $126,400, and the typical rent is about $442 a month.

How educated are people in Bethlehem, North Carolina?

About 21.4% of adults age 25 and over in Bethlehem, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bethlehem, North Carolina?

About 5.0% of people in Bethlehem, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bethlehem, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Bethlehem, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 513 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →