Bethlehem vs Livonia
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $260,400 in Bethlehem and $281,100 in Livonia.
- Households earn more in Livonia ($98,460 vs $68,879 median).
- Bethlehem has the warmer winter: January highs of 38°F vs 32°F.
- Livonia gets far more snow: 45 inches a year vs 33.
- Bethlehem is growing faster: +5.1% since 2020 vs -3.1%.
Side by side
| Bethlehem, PA | Livonia, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 79,644 | 92,603 |
| Growth since 2020 | +5.1% | -3.1% |
| People per square mile | 4,167 | 2,594 |
| Median age | 36.1 | 44.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36% | 42% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $68,879 | $98,460 |
| Median home value | $260,400 | $281,100 |
| Home value to income | 3.8× | 2.9× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,382 | $1,322 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 100.0 | 100.3 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 105.5 | 94.7 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $75,000 | $75,200 |
| Homeowners | 50% | 87% |
| Top state income tax | 3.07% | 4.25% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.34% | 6% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.1 | 24.3 |
| Work from home | 17% | 18% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.6% | 4.6% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 4.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 38° / 22° | 32° / 19° |
| July high / low | 86° / 65° | 84° / 64° |
| Precipitation per year | 47 in | 34 in |
| Snowfall per year | 33 in | 45 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 18 | 13 |
| Nights below freezing | 118 | 120 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 90.0 | 99.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 67% | 36% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.9% | +5.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +53.5% | +43.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Bethlehem: May to June and October. Livonia: May to October.
Full monthly tables: Bethlehem weather by month and Livonia weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $75,000 in Bethlehem and $75,200 in Livonia. Moving from Bethlehem to Livonia, you would need about $75,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.