RANK #559 / 1001 NAT · #31 / 44 PA · POP 378,792
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, is often recognized for its blend of historical industrial towns and scenic natural areas. Allentown, the county seat and third-largest city in Pennsylvania, anchors the region, alongside Bethlehem and Easton. Located about 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City, the county offers access to major metropolitan areas via Interstates 78 and 476, and Routes 22 and 309. Commuting options include bus services to both Philadelphia and New York City. The landscape features rolling hills and waterways like the Lehigh River, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and water activities on trails such as the D&L Trail and at places like Trexler Nature Preserve.
Life in Lehigh County appeals to a range of residents, from families to retirees, drawn by its quality of life and diverse communities. The county is served by ten school districts, including Allentown, East Penn, and Parkland. The economy has seen growth, driven by sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. This economic activity has contributed to an increase in median household income and a decrease in the poverty rate.
Lehigh County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.0% YoY, population +0.9%, wages +3.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Lehigh County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Eli Lilly and Company Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility
Eli Lilly and Company
|
$3,500M | Planned |
|
South Whitehall Data Center Complex
CDE Acquisitions
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Air Products Data Centers
Air Products
|
$800M | Proposed |
|
Lehigh County Capital Plan (2026-2030)
Lehigh County
|
$122M | Planned |
|
Kline's Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades & Relief Interceptors
Lehigh County Authority
|
$107M | Planned |
|
Cedarbrook Nursing Home Renovation (Phase II)
Lehigh County
|
$54M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Lehigh County scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#559). Median household income is $80,079 and job growth is running at +1.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Lehigh County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $300,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,383/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Lehigh County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.7% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.0% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.55% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lehigh County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.