Crime per Capita in Lehigh County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Lehigh County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
A-
Overall Crime Grade™
A- |
|
B- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
$125.3 million
Cost of Crime™ for Lehigh County, PA
In 2025, crime will cost $847 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Lehigh County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is Lehigh County, PA Safe?
The A- grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US county. Lehigh County ranks in the 80th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 80% of counties but less safe than 20%. This analysis applies only to Lehigh County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Lehigh County is 21.15 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Lehigh County Residents generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Lehigh County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 30 in the northeast areas to 1 in 81 in the southwest.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Lehigh County, PA see the most incidents - about 1,483 per year. In contrast, the west part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 326 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Lehigh County, PA
The total projected cost of crime in Lehigh County for 2025 is $125,272,912. This translates to approximately $323 per resident and $847 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.8% of the median household income in Lehigh County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.3%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.5%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.2%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Lehigh County Compared to Other Counties?
| Lehigh County, PA: | $323 |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia County, PA: | $664 |
| Adams County, PA: | $207 |
| Pennsylvania: | $353 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Lehigh County is $323 per year, which is $141 less than the national average and $30 less than Pennsylvania's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Lehigh County:
- In Philadelphia County, PA, crime costs $664 per person, which is $341 more than in Lehigh County.
- In Adams County, PA, crime costs $207 per person, which is $116 less than in Lehigh County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Lehigh County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Lehigh County |
Cost per Lehigh County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$38.5 million |
$99 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$8.83 million |
$23 |
Robbery |
$7.61 million |
$20 |
Assault |
$17.1 million |
$44 |
Kidnapping |
$632,871 |
$2 |
Vehicle Theft |
$13.4 million |
$34 |
Burglary |
$4.89 million |
$13 |
Theft |
$20.5 million |
$53 |
Arson |
$882,674 |
$2 |
Vandalism |
$7.47 million |
$19 |
Animal Cruelty |
$115,634 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$3.71 million |
$10 |
Identity Theft |
$1.71 million |
$4 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$125,272,912 |
$323 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Lehigh County, PA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Lehigh County totals $305,538,241 ($788 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $430,811,153 ($1,111 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the Lehigh County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Lehigh County has 51, have the same problem. Of Lehigh County’s 387,792 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Lehigh County, PA at ISP Reports.Lehigh County Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Lehigh County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
1.532 |
Robbery |
0.6235 |
Rape |
0.3755 |
Murder |
0.0528 |
Total Violent Crime |
2.584 (A-) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
10.22 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.225 |
Burglary |
1.391 |
Arson |
0.0943 |
Total Property Crime |
13.93 (B-) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.0269 |
Drug Crimes |
1.294 |
Vandalism |
2.695 |
Identity Theft |
0.5712 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0403 |
Total "Other" Rate |
4.627 (A+) |
Individual Lehigh County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Lehigh County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Lehigh County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
A | A | B+ | |
A+ | A- | A- | |
A | A | B+ | |
A+ | A+ | A- | |
A | A+ | B+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A | B+ | A- | |
A+ | A+ | A- | |
A | A- | B+ | |
C+ | C | C- |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Lehigh County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C+ | D+ | D+ | |
D+ | C | C | |
D- | D- | D- | |
B- | B | B | |
F | F | F | |
A- | A | A | |
C | D+ | D+ | |
C+ | B+ | B+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
B- | A- | A- |
Considering only the crime rate, Lehigh County is as safe as the Pennsylvania state average and safer than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Lehigh County, PA average SchoolGrade of B, with 47% actual proficiency versus 44% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Lehigh County schools on SchoolGrade
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