Side-by-side comparison of Lancaster, PA and Bethlehem, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Lancaster has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.30% compared to Bethlehem's 3.95%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $225,000 in Lancaster vs $245,000 in Bethlehem, while rents come in at $1,280/mo and $1,320/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Lancaster is growing faster at 0.4% annually vs Bethlehem's 0.3%. Lancaster leads on home value appreciation at 2.6% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.35% in Lancaster vs 1.36% in Bethlehem. Vacancy rates of 5.5% and 5.5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Lancaster edges out Bethlehem on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.30%, Lancaster's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Lancaster or Bethlehem.