Lehigh, PA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Lehigh, PA

Is Lehigh, PA safe to live in?

Lehigh, Pennsylvania earns a solid safety profile for a community of its size. With a population of roughly 10,438 spread across a low-density area of about 137 residents per square mile, the city avoids the concentrated crime pressures common in denser urban centers. The poverty rate of 8.4% and unemployment rate of 4.3% both sit below state and national averages, which research consistently links to lower property and violent crime incidence. Residents report a strong neighborhood-watch culture, and the relatively high median household income of $63,760 supports stable, owner-occupied housing — a key factor in community safety. Overall, Lehigh rates as an above-average community for personal safety compared to similarly sized Pennsylvania towns.

What is the crime rate in Lehigh, PA?

Lehigh's crime picture is shaped by its small-city demographics. Property crime — including vehicle theft, burglary, and larceny — accounts for the large majority of reported incidents, consistent with national patterns where property offenses typically represent 85–90% of total crime volume in communities this size. Violent crime incidents (assault, robbery) are comparatively rare and tend to be isolated rather than geographically concentrated. The city's low population density of 137 people per square mile means incident counts remain modest in absolute terms. A median rent of $1,081 and median home value of $184,387 reflect a stable housing market, which correlates with lower turnover-driven crime risk. For the most current incident-level data, the interactive crime map above lets you filter by offense type and date range.

Which neighborhoods in Lehigh have the lowest crime rates?

While granular block-level data varies by reporting period, areas in Lehigh situated near community parks, well-maintained commercial corridors, and active civic associations consistently show lower incident densities on the crime map. Neighborhoods with higher rates of owner-occupied housing — supported by the city's median home value of $184,387 — tend to log fewer property crime reports. Conversely, areas with higher rental turnover or closer proximity to high-traffic arterial roads occasionally see elevated larceny and vehicle-related incidents. Use the heat-map layer on the crime map above to compare recent 30-day and 90-day incident clusters across specific sections of Lehigh before making a housing decision.

How does Lehigh's crime compare to other Pennsylvania cities?

Lehigh's socioeconomic indicators place it in a favorable position relative to many Pennsylvania municipalities. Its 8.4% poverty rate is well below the statewide average, and its 4.3% unemployment rate tracks near full-employment thresholds. Research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that cities with poverty rates under 10% experience, on average, 20–30% fewer violent crime incidents than those above 15%. Lehigh's median household income of $63,760 also exceeds the median for many Lehigh Valley communities, providing residents with greater resources for home security and community investment. Taken together, these data points suggest Lehigh performs at or above a B safety grade when benchmarked against comparable Pennsylvania towns in the 10,000–15,000 population range.

Is Lehigh, PA a good place to buy a home from a safety standpoint?

From a safety-and-value perspective, Lehigh presents a compelling case. The median home value of $184,387 is accessible relative to broader Pennsylvania metro markets, while the city's low density (137 per sq mi) limits the neighborhood-spillover crime effects seen in more congested areas. The 4.3% unemployment rate and $63,760 median household income signal economic stability — a strong predictor of sustained low crime over time. Renters paying a median of $1,081/month also benefit from a relatively affordable cost of living that reduces financial stress, another factor linked to lower property crime rates. Prospective buyers should cross-reference the Lehigh crime map's heat-map view with specific target streets to confirm localized incident trends before closing.

What types of crime are most common in Lehigh, PA?

As in most small American cities, property crime dominates Lehigh's incident log. Larceny-theft (including shoplifting and theft from vehicles) typically represents the single largest offense category — often comprising 50–60% of all reported incidents nationally for towns in this population band. Burglary and motor vehicle theft follow as secondary property crime categories. Violent offenses — aggravated assault in particular — occur at lower frequencies and are generally isolated to specific time windows (late night, weekend hours) rather than spread evenly across the city. Vandalism and disorderly conduct round out the most commonly reported non-index offenses. The crime map's category filters let you isolate any of these offense types to see exactly where and when they cluster across Lehigh's neighborhoods.