City comparison
Bethlehem, PA is about 60 miles (90 km) from Scranton, PA in a straight line. By road, the drive is roughly 70 miles, or about 1 h 15 min behind the wheel at highway speeds.
Driving distance is a rough estimate (great-circle × 1.25); driving time assumes a 60 mph blended average. Real trips run 10–20% longer with stops.
A direct flight from Bethlehem, PA to Scranton, PA takes about 7 min, covering roughly 60 miles in a straight line. Connecting itineraries with a layover typically add 1–3 hours.
Block-to-block estimate at ~500 mph cruise, including taxi, climb, and descent — what an airline would publish, not pure airborne time.
Bethlehem has a population of 76,555, vs 76,119 in Scranton — about the same size. By land area, Scranton covers about 25 sq mi vs 19 sq mi for Bethlehem.
Population from US Census ACS. Land area from the Census Gazetteer (city proper, excluding inland water).
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Bethlehem | Scranton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,218/mo | $933/mo | 30.5% higher in Bethlehem |
| Median home value | $220,300 | $125,700 | 75.3% higher in Bethlehem |
| Median household income | $62,072 | $48,776 | 27.3% higher in Bethlehem |
| Groceries index | 100.6 | 100.7 | ≈ equal (Scranton slightly higher) |
| Utilities index | 106.8 | 105.9 | 0.9% higher in Bethlehem |
| Transportation index | 97.6 | 97.6 | ≈ equal (Bethlehem slightly higher) |
| Healthcare index | 98.4 | 98.3 | ≈ equal (Bethlehem slightly higher) |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Bethlehem, you'd need $84,539 in Scranton to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Scranton, PA is about 15.5% cheaper overall than Bethlehem, PA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 55% higher in Bethlehem than in Scranton. If you earn $80,000 in Bethlehem, you'd need about $67,631 in Scranton to keep the same standard of living.