Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Bethlehem, West Virginia
A $203,000 home here costs
$1,720per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $73,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,107. The real number is $613 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Ohio County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Bethlehem from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,568 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Ohio County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Bethlehem against Ohio County and West Virginia
| Measure | Bethlehem | Ohio County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,000 | $165,300 |
| Median property tax | $1,221 | $970 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.601% | 0.587% |
| Median gross rent | $1,291 | $823 |
| Population | 2,568 | 41,904 |
The weather behind that power bill
Bethlehem sits in Ohio County, which averages a high of 82.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.3°F in its coldest, with 37.55" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 782 cooling and 5,419 heating degree days, which is what sets the $168 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Ohio County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Ohio County
Full Ohio County cost breakdown · Every county in West Virginia
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Bethlehem averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Bethlehem every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Bethlehem I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Bethlehem?
A $203,000 home in Bethlehem, West Virginia costs approximately $1,720 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,107 principal and interest, $102 property tax, $107 homeowners insurance, $236 utilities and $169 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem has an effective property tax rate of 0.601%, based on a median home value of $203,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,221. That is higher than the Ohio County average of 0.587%.
What is the average home price in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home value in Bethlehem, West Virginia is $203,000, against $165,300 across Ohio County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bethlehem?
Median gross rent in Bethlehem is $1,291 a month, against $1,720 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Bethlehem?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Bethlehem, West Virginia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $73,500 a year. That covers the full $1,720 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Bethlehem, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for West Virginia.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.