The typical owner-occupied home in Lehigh County is worth about $300,400, 18% above the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 10% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,651 a year in property taxes, about 1.55% of their home's value, higher than the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $80,079 a year, so the median home costs 3.8 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Lehigh County at a glance
| Lehigh County | Pennsylvania | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,400 | $254,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,651 | $3,311 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.55% | 1.30% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $80,079 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 66% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 64% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,885 | $1,762 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.4% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,383 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.5% | 29.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1968 | 1965 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.5% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 378,792 | 13,018,639 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Lehigh County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lehigh County home of $300,400 with 20% down costs about $2,130 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,630, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $91,278 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median Lehigh County household income of $80,079; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $264,000.
The median rent here is $1,383 a month, so owning the median home costs about $747 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $60,080 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $240,320 |
| Principal and interest | $1,617 |
| Property taxes (1.55% a year) | $388 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,130 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $10,514 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $294,959 |
| Principal and interest | $1,984 |
| Property taxes (1.55% a year) | $388 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $133 |
| Total per month | $2,630 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Lehigh County
What is the median home value in Lehigh County?
About $300,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Lehigh County?
Homeowners pay a median $4,651 a year, which is about 1.55% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Lehigh County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,130 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $91,278 a year.
More about Lehigh County
- Mortgage Refinance in Lehigh County
- Debt Relief in Lehigh County
- Home Equity Loans in Lehigh County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data