Pennsylvania · GEOID 42077

Lehigh County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 378,792 · 151,220 housing units

Median household income

$80,079

State $80,054

Median home value

$300,400

State $266,800

Median gross rent

$1,383

State $1,235

Homeownership rate

65.6%

State 69.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

54.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

22.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.3%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.7%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

4.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.75

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Lehigh County	Pennsylvania
Population	378,792	13,018,639
Population density (per sq. mi.)	1,096.88	—
Median household income	$80,079	$80,054
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$104,400	—
Households	144,386	—
Average household size	2.56 people	—
Owner-occupied	65.6%	69.3%
Renter-occupied	34.4%	30.7%
Race	62.3% White · 6.5% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Lehigh County compared with Pennsylvania.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

34.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	14.4%	$58,364	$1,459	$186,231
1 earner	29.5%	$64,069	$1,602	$207,467
2 earners	42.5%	$123,604	$3,090	$429,077
3+ earners	13.6%	$157,281	$3,932	$554,434

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

144,386

Average size: 2.56 people

Households with children

39,914

27.6% of households

Per-capita income

$43,088

Poverty rate: 10.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

65.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 74.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 17.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

64.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,968.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $300,400.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,383.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 6,834 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 4.6% · For rent 28.1% · Seasonal 10.6% · Other 50.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

39.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 60.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.5%

725 units of 151,220 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.3%

3,427 units of 151,220 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$64,063

100% MHI$80,079

120% MHI$96,095

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Lehigh County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$58,450	$66,800	$83,500
100% AMI	$73,080	$83,520	$104,400
120% AMI	$87,700	$100,200	$125,300

HUD FMR Area: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

54.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (28.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

22.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Lehigh County.

Covered employment

189,667

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

8,445

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$69,296

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	51,089	$76,848	$255,035	−$45,365	$1,921
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	20,118	$82,229	$275,065	−$25,335	$2,056
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	18,500	$35,685	$101,812	−$198,588	$892
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	17,099	$64,465	$208,941	−$91,459	$1,612
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	13,126	$58,283	$185,930	−$114,470	$1,457
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	12,934	$25,049	$62,221	−$238,179	$626
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	12,643	$53,547	$168,301	−$132,099	$1,339
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	9,798	$98,614	$336,055	+$35,655	$2,465
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	6,664	$79,634	$265,405	−$34,995	$1,991
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	6,229	$178,141	$632,082	+$331,682	$4,454
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	5,238	$43,783	$131,956	−$168,444	$1,095
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	4,298	$105,823	$362,890	+$62,490	$2,646
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	4,186	$74,390	$245,885	−$54,515	$1,860
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	3,893	$40,064	$118,112	−$182,288	$1,002
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	2,007	$63,543	$205,509	−$94,891	$1,589
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,845	$80,644	$269,165	−$31,235	$2,016

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	19,473	$79,546	$265,078	−$35,322	$1,989
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	17,010	$103,809	$355,393	+$54,993	$2,595
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	13,126	$58,283	$185,930	−$114,470	$1,457
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	12,175	$53,080	$166,562	−$133,838	$1,327
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	11,880	$24,539	$60,323	−$240,077	$613
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	10,091	$60,056	$192,529	−$107,871	$1,501
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	9,798	$98,614	$336,055	+$35,655	$2,465
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	8,255	$36,273	$104,001	−$196,399	$907
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	6,229	$178,141	$632,082	+$331,682	$4,454
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	5,635	$47,484	$145,732	−$154,668	$1,187
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	4,819	$78,690	$261,891	−$38,509	$1,967
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	4,713	$101,165	$345,551	+$45,151	$2,529
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	4,500	$28,807	$76,210	−$224,190	$720
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	3,578	$29,131	$77,416	−$222,984	$728
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	3,413	$69,182	$226,499	−$73,901	$1,730
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	3,107	$73,922	$244,143	−$56,257	$1,848
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	2,884	$23,267	$55,588	−$244,812	$582
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	2,827	$80,654	$269,202	−$31,198	$2,016
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	2,794	$59,717	$191,267	−$109,133	$1,493
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	2,410	$35,024	$99,352	−$201,048	$876
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	2,217	$79,796	$266,008	−$34,392	$1,995
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	2,091	$82,852	$277,384	−$23,016	$2,071
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	2,086	$94,266	$319,871	+$19,471	$2,357
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	1,852	$71,453	$234,953	−$65,447	$1,786
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	1,702	$71,933	$236,740	−$63,660	$1,798
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,638	$27,392	$70,943	−$229,457	$685
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	1,633	$86,832	$292,199	−$8,201	$2,171
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	1,552	$81,769	$273,352	−$27,048	$2,044
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	1,480	$65,879	$214,204	−$86,196	$1,647
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	1,431	$57,755	$183,964	−$116,436	$1,444
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	1,401	$22,648	$53,284	−$247,116	$566
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,394	$31,936	$87,857	−$212,543	$798
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	1,372	$84,222	$282,483	−$17,917	$2,106
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	1,339	$44,959	$136,333	−$164,067	$1,124
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,205	$40,072	$118,142	−$182,258	$1,002
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	1,114	$39,472	$115,909	−$184,491	$987
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	1,090	$47,790	$146,871	−$153,529	$1,195
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,053	$30,829	$83,736	−$216,664	$771
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	990	$62,657	$202,211	−$98,189	$1,566
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	976	$42,117	$125,754	−$174,646	$1,053
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	944	$96,517	$328,250	+$27,850	$2,413
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	876	$52,604	$164,790	−$135,610	$1,315
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	865	$97,873	$333,297	+$32,897	$2,447
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	784	$103,012	$352,426	+$52,026	$2,575
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	750	$171,545	$607,529	+$307,129	$4,289
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	732	$72,324	$238,195	−$62,205	$1,808
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	671	$69,093	$226,168	−$74,232	$1,727
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	536	$69,929	$229,280	−$71,120	$1,748
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	512	$50,454	$156,787	−$143,613	$1,261
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	468	$65,690	$213,501	−$86,899	$1,642
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	405	$71,136	$233,773	−$66,627	$1,778
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	401	$105,469	$361,572	+$61,172	$2,637
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	394	$97,459	$331,756	+$31,356	$2,436
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	344	$80,827	$269,846	−$30,554	$2,021
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	293	$83,852	$281,106	−$19,294	$2,096
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	283	$103,779	$355,281	+$54,881	$2,594
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	246	$64,314	$208,379	−$92,021	$1,608
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	225	$36,017	$103,048	−$197,352	$900
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	174	$65,403	$212,433	−$87,967	$1,635
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	170	$27,088	$69,811	−$230,589	$677
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	151	$100,516	$343,135	+$42,735	$2,513
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	140	$29,506	$78,812	−$221,588	$738
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	124	$64,630	$209,555	−$90,845	$1,616
NAICS 315 Apparel manufacturing NAICS 315	112	$31,286	$85,438	−$214,962	$782
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	106	$27,848	$72,640	−$227,760	$696
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	59	$35,307	$100,405	−$199,995	$883
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	56	$103,319	$353,569	+$53,169	$2,583
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	56	$45,793	$139,438	−$160,962	$1,145
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	22	$120,970	$419,272	+$118,872	$3,024

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	9,110	(1,080)	(11%)	$14.30	$29,750	$79,720	$744
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	7,550	(1,390)	(16%)	$14.79	$30,760	$83,480	$769
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	910	(160)	(15%)	$15.53	$32,310	$89,249	$808
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	9,060	(3,150)	(26%)	$17.03	$35,410	$100,789	$885
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	5,310	(100)	(2%)	$18.46	$38,400	$111,918	$960
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	6,500	1,090	20%	$18.91	$39,330	$115,380	$983
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	4,970	(3,030)	(38%)	$20.98	$43,640	$131,423	$1,091
Tellers SOC 43-3071	840	(490)	(37%)	$21.80	$45,350	$137,789	$1,134
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	6,240	(1,430)	(19%)	$21.85	$45,440	$138,124	$1,136
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,670	(100)	(6%)	$26.39	$54,880	$173,262	$1,372
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	3,780	240	7%	$26.80	$55,750	$176,501	$1,394
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	6,590	760	13%	$29.59	$61,540	$198,053	$1,539
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,390	90	7%	$29.75	$61,870	$199,282	$1,547
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	300	(720)	(71%)	$31.39	$65,300	$212,049	$1,633
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	300	10	3%	$32.46	$67,520	$220,313	$1,688
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,100	(300)	(21%)	$35.97	$74,810	$247,449	$1,870
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	730	(90)	(11%)	$36.29	$75,490	$249,980	$1,887
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	4,260	720	20%	—	$78,000	$259,323	$1,950
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,610	0	0%	$39.27	$81,680	$273,021	$2,042
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	10,860	1,840	20%	$46.44	$96,590	$328,521	$2,415

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 42077 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.