The Town FilesSouth Whitehall, Pennsylvania
Township in Lehigh County · population 21,080 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $365,100
- Household income
- $102,872
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 45.0
South Whitehall is a township of 21,080 people in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $365,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more upscale than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, better for cycling than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
How South Whitehall 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 South Whitehall is worth $365,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $102,872, which is more affordable than 21% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,865 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Whitehall | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $365,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,865 | $996 |
| Median household income | $102,872 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in South Whitehall
| People | South Whitehall | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in South Whitehall
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Whitehall since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 5, 1984 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 14, 2010.
Severe weather in Lehigh County since 1996
Lehigh County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lehigh County
Lehigh County had 200,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,311 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in South Whitehall itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in South Whitehall
1 public school with 972 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orefield MS | 6-8 | 972 | 12.6 |
Towns near South Whitehall
- Dorneyville, PA3.2 mi · 4,850 people · home $417,600
- Whitehall, PA3.4 mi · 29,173 people · home $262,100
- Fullerton, PA3.5 mi · 16,588 people · home $239,700
- Hokendauqua, PA3.8 mi · 3,340 people · home $256,100
- Allentown, PA3.9 mi · 125,845 people · home $206,600
- Wescosville, PA4.0 mi · 6,039 people · home $452,400
- Coplay, PA4.4 mi · 3,348 people · home $215,800
- North Whitehall, PA4.5 mi · 15,655 people · home $351,800
South Whitehall questions
Is South Whitehall, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Whitehall scores better for retirees than 31% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 24%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in South Whitehall?
The median owner-occupied home in South Whitehall is valued at $365,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,872, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,865 a month.
What is the weather like in South Whitehall?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.1 inches of snow.
Does South Whitehall get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Whitehall since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 5, 1984. 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)