Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania Property Taxes

Name: Property Tax Bills Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Creator: Ownwell
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Median Bethlehem, PA effective property tax rate: 4.42%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, but lower than the Pennsylvania state median of 2.81%.
Median Bethlehem, PA home value: $117,600
Median annual Bethlehem, PA tax bill: $4,704, $2,304 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.

How are property taxes in Northampton calculated?

Property taxes in Bethlehem, PA are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.

Understanding Bethlehem’s property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Bethlehem, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.

Last Updated March 1, 2025

Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania Property Tax Bill Calculator

Property Assessed Value

$100,000

$1,500,000

$3,000,000

Median Effective Tax Rate

4.42%

Estimate Property Tax Bill

$5,198

$4,824

Ownwell’s Bethlehem Property Tax Bill Calculator empowers homeowners, real estate investors, and potential buyers to estimate their annual property taxes in Bethlehem with just two data points. By entering your property's estimated assessed value, our calculator applies Bethlehem’s median effective tax rate to accurately estimate your property tax bill. Note that your property's assessed value — determined by your county — reflects any exemptions you may have, ensuring a precise calculation for your property tax obligations. This insightful tool helps you understand potential tax liabilities and highlights how Ownwell can assist in reducing property taxes in Northampton. For those interested in more localized information, please scroll down to explore city-level trends!

Property Tax Rates Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Local government entities determine property tax rates, leading to significant variation within Pennsylvania. This process involves each county, like Northampton, estimating its budgetary needs for services and dividing this by the total assessed value of taxable property. This calculation establishes the property tax rate. Although setting tax rates and budgets involves votes and legislation, this is the core annual procedure.

Bethlehem, located in Northampton County, exhibits a notably high effective property tax rate of 4.42%, the highest within the county. This is significantly above the national median property tax rate of 1.02%. In contrast, the lowest median tax rate in Bethlehem is 3.85%, still considerably higher than the national average. These figures underscore the substantial variance in property tax rates even within the same city and highlight the importance of understanding local tax dynamics.

When comparing Bethlehem to other cities in Pennsylvania, it's clear that property owners face higher tax rates, impacting their overall tax burden. By staying informed about these rates, property owners can make strategic decisions and potentially seek tax appeal and exemption services to alleviate their financial obligations.

Property Tax Rates Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Source: Ownwell

3.61%

4.40%

5.19%

Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.

Median Effective Bethlehem Tax Rate

4.42%

Median Effective Northampton County Tax Rate

3.95%

Median Effective Pennsylvania Tax Rate

2.81%

Median Effective United States Tax Rate

1.02%

Property Tax Rates Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Zip	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Rate	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
18015	3.53%	3.53%	4.42%	4.42%	4.42%
18017	3.66%	3.66%	4.42%	4.42%	4.42%
18018	4.42%	4.42%	4.42%	4.42%	4.42%
18020	3.60%	3.85%	3.85%	3.85%	3.85%

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

When examining property taxes in Bethlehem, PA, understanding the distinction between "market value" and "assessed value" is crucial. The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The Northampton County assessment office estimates the market value for tax purposes. The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.

Assessment notices:

In Northampton County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They’ll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of March. Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Bethlehem.

For example, the median home price in Bethlehem is $117,600, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. Zip code 18020 has the highest median home price at $140,400.

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Source: Ownwell

$66,500

$112,850

$159,200

Median Bethlehem Market Value

$117,600

Median Northampton County Market Value

$115,200

Median Pennsylvania Market Value

$114,400

Median United States Market Value

$235,294

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Zip	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Home Price	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
18015	$42,600	$53,800	$70,400	$132,000	$266,800
18017	$85,200	$104,000	$128,000	$175,200	$227,000
18018	$64,600	$70,600	$78,600	$91,800	$111,800
18020	$97,000	$116,200	$140,400	$186,600	$236,800

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Bills Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

In Bethlehem, Northampton County, PA, property tax bills are determined by the assessed value of a home, which is then multiplied by the local tax rate. The median home price here is $117,600, and the tax rate influences the final bill. The median property tax bill in Bethlehem is significantly higher than the national median, with the 25th percentile bill at $3,500 and the 75th percentile reaching $6,332. The highest median tax bill in the area is $5,382 in the 18020 zip code, while the lowest is $2,996 in the 18015 zip code. These amounts reflect the substantial financial impact on homeowners, particularly when compared to the national median property tax bill of $2,400. Ownwell offers a solution by providing property tax appeal and exemption services. By analyzing property assessments and identifying discrepancies, Ownwell can help homeowners potentially lower their tax liabilities. This service not only saves money but also alleviates the financial burden of high property taxes, making homeownership more affordable.

Property Tax Bills Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Source: Ownwell

$2,727

$4,582

$6,437

Median Bethlehem Tax Bill

$4,704

Median Northampton County Tax Bill

$4,642

Median Pennsylvania Tax Bill

$3,063

Median United States Tax Bill

$2,400

Property Tax Bills Across Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Zip	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Bill	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
18015	$1,883	$2,351	$2,996	$4,910	$9,517
18017	$3,659	$4,375	$5,295	$6,817	$8,804
18018	$2,855	$3,114	$3,465	$4,048	$4,914
18020	$3,716	$4,435	$5,382	$7,152	$9,065

Source: Ownwell