The Town FilesLehigh, Pennsylvania
Township in Northampton County · population 10,774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,800
- Household income
- $89,741
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 51.6
Lehigh is a township of 10,774 people in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $280,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lehigh ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lehigh is worth $280,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $89,741, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,471 a month. 93.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lehigh | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,471 | $996 |
| Median household income | $89,741 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Lehigh
| People | Lehigh | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lehigh
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lehigh since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 26, 1981 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 120,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Lehigh itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Lehigh
- Slatington, PA3.6 mi · 4,283 people · home $191,500
- Lower Towamensing, PA4.0 mi · 3,046 people · home $232,400
- Palmerton, PA4.7 mi · 5,593 people · home $180,000
- Allen, PA4.8 mi · 5,456 people · home $330,300
- Washington, PA5.4 mi · 6,551 people · home $282,100
- Egypt, PA5.5 mi · 2,588 people · home $343,200
- Northampton, PA6.0 mi · 10,395 people · home $235,200
- North Whitehall, PA6.2 mi · 15,655 people · home $351,800
Lehigh questions
Is Lehigh, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lehigh scores better for retirees than 14% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 53%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Lehigh?
The median owner-occupied home in Lehigh is valued at $280,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,741, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,471 a month.
What is the weather like in Lehigh?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Lehigh get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lehigh since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 26, 1981. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)