Independent Living Communities in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

CaringScore for Lehigh County, PA

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for independent living communities in Lehigh was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose independent living communities in Lehigh.

CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 6, Lehigh rates above average for those seeking independent living communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Lehigh. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Lehigh County, PA

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Lehigh, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for independent living communities. The HealthScore for Lehigh is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 7.1, Lehigh rates above average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults seeking independent living communities. At 310.9 physicians per capita, Lehigh scores 41.0 percent better than the national average. Lehigh scores about average in geriatricians per capita, with 1.5, and scores 59.5 percent better than the national average in specialists per capita, with 31.1. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Lehigh is 79.1 years -- 1.5 percent higher than most of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Lehigh is 79.1 years -- 1.5 percent higher than most of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Lehigh's environmental health -- trails the national average by 25.5 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Lehigh County, PA	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	310.9	220.5
Geriatricians	1.5	1.3
Cardiologists	16	7.7
Oncologists	5.2	3.5
Orthopedists	8.4	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Lehigh County, PA

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Lehigh, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for independent living communities. The CostScore for Lehigh is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 4.9, Lehigh is on par with the national average for independent living communities.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at independent living communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Lehigh. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of independent living communities in Lehigh to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Lehigh is roughly equal to the national average. Average healthcare costs index at 101 of 10, roughly the same as the national average, and the cost of housing index is 111 of 10, which mirrors the rest of the country.

Cost of Living	Lehigh County, PA
Aggregate Index	105
Healthcare Index	101
Housing Index	111
Food Index	108
Utilities Index	103
Transportation Index	101

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Lehigh County, PA

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Lehigh. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for independent living communities. The LivabilityScore for Lehigh is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 5.7, Lehigh rates above average for independent living communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for independent living communities. The sun shines an average of 204 days each year in Lehigh, which is about average in the U.S. With an average temperature of 22°F in January, winters in Lehigh tend to be similar to other parts of the country, and summers often mirror nationwide seasonal trends, averaging 86°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Lehigh is 25.0 percent lower than the national average, and the property crime rate index is 4 of 10, which is in line with the national average. At $54,474 per year, the population of Lehigh earns a median household income on par with the national average. Lehigh has an unemployment rate of 8.60 percent, roughly equal to the national average. And about 15.53 percent of the population in Lehigh is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which exceeds the national average by 18.0 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Lehigh	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	0.6	136.1
Libraries	2.9	18.8
Places of Worship	74.3	220.5
Public Transit	151.9	110.4
Grocery Stores	86.6	97.7
Pharmacies	20.1	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65