Lehigh County Public RecordsPennsylvania

As of 2022, Lehigh County, PA, has a population of approximately 376,000. The median age is about 39 years. The gender distribution is nearly equal, with 51% female and 49% male. Racially, the county is 62% White (non-Hispanic), 6% Black or African American, 3% Asian, and 28% Hispanic or Latino of any race, reflecting increasing diversity in recent years.

Lehigh County, PA, has over 245,000 registered voters as of 2024, with Democrats comprising 42%, Republicans 39%, and others 19%. The county oversees primary, general, municipal, and special elections, administered by the Lehigh County Board of Elections at 86 polling locations. In the 2020 presidential election, turnout was 77%, with Joe Biden receiving 53% and Donald Trump 46%. Recent issues include disputes over mail-in ballot handling and voting machine security. The county’s elections are closely contested, reflecting its politically diverse population and active participation by both major parties.

Lehigh County, PA, is served by over 20 high schools, with the Allentown and Parkland districts being the largest. The high school graduation rate exceeds 88%, and approximately 31% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Public schools score an average of 6/10 on standardized ratings. The county also offers robust adult education through institutions like Lehigh Carbon Community College. School safety initiatives include resource officers and security upgrades in most districts, and specialized educational programs such as STEM and vocational training are widely available, enhancing both student engagement and future career readiness.

As of early 2024, Lehigh County, PA boasts an employment rate around 63%. Major industries include healthcare and social assistance (employing 17%), manufacturing (14%), and retail trade (11%). Leading occupation types are office/administrative support (14%) and production (11%). Most residents (80%) commute by car, with an average commute time of 25 minutes; 53% work within Lehigh County, while others travel to nearby Northampton and Bucks counties. The region’s diverse economic base supports robust employment opportunities across sectors.

Lehigh County, PA, has a homeownership rate of about 65%, with median home values around $260,000 and median rents near $1,300 per month. The real estate market has seen prices rise nearly 7% year-over-year as of early 2024. Housing options include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments; popular neighborhoods include Allentown’s West End and Emmaus. Property taxes average 1.9% of assessed value, higher than the national average. Demand remains strong, particularly for suburban homes, driven by proximity to Philadelphia and New York City.

Lehigh County, PA, has seen a mixed crime trend in recent years. According to the FBI’s 2022 data, the violent crime rate stood at approximately 258 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average of 380. Property crime rates were about 1,600 per 100,000, also lower than the US average of 1,954. Local law enforcement actively promotes community policing and encourages residents to report suspicious activities via the county’s crime tip lines and online portals, contributing to a safer environment and enhanced public safety reporting in the area.