The Town FilesBethlehem, West Virginia
Village in Ohio County · population 2,605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,000
- Household income
- $83,409
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.7
Bethlehem is a village of 2,605 people in Ohio County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $200,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more upscale than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for families than 97% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 86% of West Virginia towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $200,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $83,409, which is more affordable than 57% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,339 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,339 | $811 |
| Median household income | $83,409 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.8% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.3% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.2 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 1, 2022 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 17, 2009.
Severe weather in Ohio County since 1996
Ohio County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4884: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Ohio County
Ohio County had 27,100 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,864 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Bethlehem itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Bethlehem
- Wheeling, WV2.0 mi · 27,052 people · home $146,500
- Bellaire, OH4.1 mi · 3,870 people · home $85,400
- Martins Ferry, OH4.7 mi · 6,260 people · home $96,200
- Shadyside, OH6.4 mi · 3,454 people · home $143,100
- Moundsville, WV9.2 mi · 8,093 people · home $118,600
- St. Clairsville, OH11.7 mi · 5,096 people · home $199,000
- Hooverson Heights, WV19.3 mi · 2,582 people · home $154,600
- Mingo Junction, OH19.5 mi · 3,347 people · home $104,000
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 86% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 49%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $200,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,409, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,339 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 15.2 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 1, 2022. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)