Population 378,792 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lehigh County
Household size in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.01 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Lehigh County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.55 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Few Pennsylvania counties have larger households: only four of 67.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 40.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.2 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 42.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.5 | 42.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.5, the median age in Lehigh County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the wider Allentown area, where the median age is 42.3. The median age has crept up from 39.7 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, only four are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 11.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.7 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Lehigh County (13.3%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only two of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lehigh County
Renters in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 26.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.0% | 29.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 31.2% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.4% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Lehigh County is about as common as it is nationally: 34.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in the Allentown area as a whole (30.3%). Nearly four in ten owners (37.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 8.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Lehigh County than nationally: 5.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, mirroring the country. Few Pennsylvania counties have a lower vacancy rate: only five of 67.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1965 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1967 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1967 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1969 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Lehigh County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The Allentown area as a whole looks much the same. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $911 | $928 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,015 | $1,020 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,185 | $1,170 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,516 | $1,504 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$605 | +$576 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lehigh County costs $1,516 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $605 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, only five have higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lehigh County
Bachelor's degrees in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 26.0% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.5% | 26.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 29.5% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Lehigh County (33.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 86.4% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.2% | 88.0% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.3% | 89.7% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.9% | 91.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lehigh County is close to the national rate: 89.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points, as it has nationally. Lehigh County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Pennsylvania counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lehigh County
| Period | Lehigh County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 9.4% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lehigh County is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lehigh County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh County | 2.63 | 40.5 | 13.3% | 34.4% | 5.7% | 1968 | $1,516 | 33.8% | 89.9% | 6.0% |
| Northampton County | 2.54 | 42.9 | 10.2% | 28.9% | 6.2% | 1969 | $1,544 | 34.5% | 92.4% | 4.6% |
| Hunterdon County | 2.56 | 45.9 | 5.6% | 14.9% | 3.5% | 1977 | $1,839 | 57.0% | 96.1% | 4.6% |
| Somerset County | 2.75 | 42.5 | 8.4% | 25.7% | 3.4% | 1978 | $2,235 | 57.0% | 93.5% | 4.8% |
| Middlesex County | 2.87 | 40.6 | 10.7% | 36.4% | 4.7% | 1972 | $1,956 | 46.3% | 88.6% | 6.6% |
| Union County | 2.95 | 39.6 | 14.7% | 42.6% | 5.6% | 1958 | $1,910 | 38.0% | 85.4% | 6.6% |
| Richmond County | 2.96 | 41.0 | 11.7% | 32.3% | 8.6% | 1971 | $1,856 | 35.5% | 88.0% | 5.5% |
| Kings County | 2.78 | 37.5 | 12.5% | 70.5% | 9.1% | 1953 | $1,954 | 40.2% | 83.6% | 8.3% |
| Perry County | 2.54 | 43.6 | 9.4% | 18.2% | 8.8% | 1974 | $898 | 19.6% | 89.1% | 3.2% |
| Juniata County | 2.60 | 43.2 | 6.9% | 26.2% | 13.3% | 1972 | $763 | 14.8% | 83.5% | 2.1% |
| Mifflin County | 2.52 | 43.4 | 9.5% | 28.9% | 13.7% | 1962 | $830 | 14.2% | 83.5% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lexington County, SC · Rutherford County, TN · Rockland County, NY · Marion County, OR · Marion County, FL · Madison County, AL · Luzerne County, PA · Lucas County, OH · Lubbock County, TX · Loudoun County, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lehigh County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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