> Why Bethlehem
Just minutes from downtown Albany in the heart of New York’s Capital Region, Bethlehem is a thriving hub for green energy, main street small business, professional services, and industrial leaders powering the region’s economy. Bethlehem’s location at the crossroads of the northeast—centered between New York City, Boston, Montreal, and Buffalo—and highly-skilled workforce make it an attractive location for businesses of all types.
The Town of Bethlehem includes the hamlets of Delmar, Elsmere, Glenmont, North Bethlehem, Selkirk, Slingerlands, and South Bethlehem. With a population of nearly 35,000 across 52 square miles, Bethlehem is noted for its superb school systems, its town services, prudent planned development, and a wide variety of community organizations. Its unique blend of suburban neighborhoods, rural life and commercial enterprises make it an attractive community for businesses and residents alike.
Industries & Employers
Bethlehem and the Capital Region are home to a diverse mix of industries, with leading employers in manufacturing, education and healthcare, financial services, and professional services.
Demographics
Bethlehem offers businesses a highly-skilled workforce and robust customer base, both within the Town itself and across the Capital Region—making Bethlehem a unique and desirable location for businesses to launch and grow.
Education
Schools
Families and students in the Town of Bethlehem are served by three of the top school districts in the Capital Region and New York State. Bethlehem Central School District, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District and Guilderland Central School District all boast excellent academic curricula and consistently rank top in the state based on student test performance. All three high schools serving Bethlehem receive high marks from GreatSchools. In addition, the Bethlehem Central School District has been consistently included on the U.S. News and World Reports annual rankings of the Best High Schools in the Nation. and was ranked as the top school district in the Capital Region in the 2022 Albany Business Review School Report.
Higher Education
The Capital Region is the home to more than 20 colleges and universities. Ten of those offer bachelor degree programs and eight of those offer graduate level courses. These include the nationally ranked and recognized, SUNY Albany in Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and Union College in Schenectady. The region is also home to the Albany Medical College, Albany Law School as well as the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. In addition, the Capital Region is home to the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
Quality of Life
Bethlehem’s wide array of recreational activities, excellent services, top-notch educational system, and prime location combine to make it a destination unlike any other in the Capital Region. The town prides itself on residents and business choosing Bethlehem as a place to live, work and play.
Recreation
Residents of the Town of Bethlehem take advantage of a wide array of recreational activities. Whether it is swimming, skating or sledding at one of the many Town parks, picnicking and boating on the Hudson River, hiking at Town parks and Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy preserves, or participating in one of the many adult or junior programs, Bethlehem has something for everyone. In addition, the Town of Bethlehem is located only minutes from downtown Albany and is also less than an hour drive to locations such as Saratoga, Lake George, ski resorts and the Berkshires.
Services
The Town of Bethlehem is committed to delivering high-quality services to residents and businesses alike. Whether it is the outstanding Police Department, the tireless Highway Department, or the invaluable Senior Services Department, the Town has a robust, dedicated workforce focused on delivering for Bethlehem residents and businesses. Learn more in the State of Town summary; for a complete listing of the Town Departments and their roles, visit the Town's site.
Youth Services
The Town offers some of the most comprehensive and accessible youth programs and services in the Capital Region. From sports, to arts and cultural, to religious to recreational, the Town of Bethlehem makes every effort to ensure that the programs available to our youth are second to none. For more information and specific details on each program, visit the Town's site.