Who moves to Bethlehem, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Northampton County, PA, home of Bethlehem, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 14,000from other US counties
- Moved out
- 12,932to other US counties
- Net
- +1,068more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 99tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Lehigh County, PA (Allentown) | 4,553 |
| Monroe County, PA | 753 |
| Warren County, NJ | 675 |
| Bucks County, PA | 337 |
| Kings County, NY | 299 |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 267 |
| Montgomery County, PA | 263 |
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 261 |
| Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia) | 255 |
| Carbon County, PA | 254 |
| Berks County, PA (Reading) | 227 |
| Bronx County, NY | 217 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Lehigh County, PA (Allentown) | 3,957 |
| Monroe County, PA | 635 |
| Carbon County, PA | 350 |
| Warren County, NJ | 346 |
| Bucks County, PA | 323 |
| Montgomery County, PA | 296 |
| Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia) | 243 |
| Berks County, PA (Reading) | 221 |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 151 |
| Kings County, NY | 127 |
| Luzerne County, PA | 112 |
| Chester County, PA | 108 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 7,628 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Pennsylvania and 6,372 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Suffolk County, NY | 89 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 51 |
| Allegheny County, PA (Pittsburgh) | 45 |
| Cumberland County, PA | 36 |
| Palm Beach County, FL (West Palm Beach) | 36 |
| Hillsborough County, FL (Tampa) | 33 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Horry County, SC | 88 |
| Polk County, FL (Lakeland) | 73 |
| Allegheny County, PA (Pittsburgh) | 69 |
| Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale) | 61 |
| Hillsborough County, FL (Tampa) | 60 |
| Orange County, FL (Orlando) | 60 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 55 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 53 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Bethlehem come from?
Most people moving into Northampton County, PA come from nearby counties, led by Lehigh County, PA (4,553 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Suffolk County, NY.
Where do people leaving Bethlehem move to?
The top destination is Lehigh County, PA (3,957 people). Farther away, the most popular is Horry County, SC.
Are more people moving to Bethlehem or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 14,000 people moved into Northampton County, PA from elsewhere in the US and 12,932 moved out, a net gain of 1,068 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Bethlehem with any city it trades people with, like Bethlehem vs Los Angeles, Bethlehem vs Pittsburgh, Bethlehem vs West Palm Beach, Bethlehem vs Tampa.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Bethlehem.