Lehigh County Crime & Safety

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Safety Score

50/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

Average

Total Crime Rate

1132.8

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

103.4

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

1029.4

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

50/100

Higher = safer

State avg 62/100

State Safety Rank

#56

of 67 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Lehigh County Balances Urbanization and Safety

Lehigh County holds a safety score of 98.2 despite its busy metropolitan centers. Its total crime rate of 1,132.8 per 100K is still roughly 50% lower than the national average of 2,385.5.

How Lehigh Compares Within Pennsylvania

The county's crime rate of 1,132.8 is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 932.4. However, 24 reporting agencies show that the county remains a relatively safe place to live compared to other urban regions.

Comparing Lehigh to Neighboring Counties

Lehigh's crime rate of 1,132.8 is slightly lower than Lackawanna County's 1,144.4. It maintains a better safety profile than many similar-sized counties in the northeastern United States.

Breaking Down the Crime Statistics

Property crime is the most common issue at 1,029.4 per 100K, but this is still far below the national average of 2,015.7. Violent crime is relatively low at 103.4 per 100K, which is better than the state average of 142.2.

Deterring Property Crime in Urban Areas

Residents in more populated areas should consider installing security cameras to deter property theft. Keeping valuables out of sight in parked cars is another simple way to reduce local crime.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Lehigh County, PA?

Lehigh County has a total crime rate of 1132.8 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (103.4 per 100K) and property crimes (1029.4 per 100K).

Is Lehigh County, PA safe?

Lehigh County has a safety score of 50/100, rated "Average". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #56 out of 67 counties in Pennsylvania for safety (1 = safest).

How does Lehigh County crime compare to the Pennsylvania average?

What types of crime are most common in Lehigh County?

How is crime data measured and reported for Lehigh County?

Crime data for Lehigh County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

What is being done about crime in Lehigh County?

Lehigh County has a safety score of 50/100, which is below the Pennsylvania average of 62/100. Many counties with above-average crime rates invest in community policing, crime prevention programs, neighborhood watch initiatives, and social services aimed at reducing crime over time.