Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Lehigh County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Lehigh County Around averageWealthier than 76% of counties in Pennsylvania
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lehigh County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $80,478 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,571 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.7% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.4% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lehigh County is about 3% higher than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Lehigh County (4.2%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Lehigh County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania grew by 49.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $80,478 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lehigh County
| Metric | Lehigh County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,110 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,744 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.1% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Lehigh County, it is 0.535, about the same as Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $502,810 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 27% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $723 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lehigh County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.0% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 11,601 people are unemployed in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Lehigh County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 8.7% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.5% in 2023.
Lehigh County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lehigh County, PA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 378,708 residents against a local median of 318,250. Lehigh County, PA sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 9% above the local median at 5.9% against 5.4%. Lehigh County, PA has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh County, PA | 378,708 | $80,478 #4/6 | 4.2%/yr #5/6 | 5.9% #4/6 | 0.535 #5/6 |
| Northampton County, PA | 318,250 | $90,012 | 4.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.529 |
| Carbon County, PA | 65,382 | $67,568 | 3.6%/yr | 7.5% | 0.507 |
| Berks County, PA | 432,828 | $80,413 | 4.3%/yr | 5.4% | 0.533 |
| Montgomery County, PA | 867,535 | $114,626 | 4.2%/yr | 4.5% | 0.520 |
| Monroe County, PA | 167,515 | $83,939 | 4.5%/yr | 6.9% | 0.549 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Pennsylvania, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Lehigh County, Pennsylvania?
Lehigh County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $80,478, about 3% higher than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How fast is household income rising in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania rose 50%, from $53,762 to $80,478. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Pennsylvania as a whole: +50% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Lehigh County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was $77,935, up 4% from $74,969 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Lehigh County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was $66,411. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $80,478.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Lehigh County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 27% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $723 since 2009.
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