Lehigh County, PA is a vibrant and diverse community that is home to many individuals and families. One of the key factors in ensuring the health and wellbeing of all those who call Lehigh County their home is providing access to quality healthcare. In Lehigh County, there are several local hospitals and medical facilities that provide comprehensive medical care for residents. These include Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, St. Luke's University Health Network in Bethlehem and Easton Hospital in Easton. Additionally, there are numerous clinics and physician offices throughout the county which offer a wide variety of specialized services. With such an extensive network of healthcare providers, Lehigh County residents have access to quality care close to home.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 315 physicians per 100,000 population in Lehigh County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Lehigh County area is 117.7 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
117.7 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Lehigh County area is 41 (100=best). The US average is 55.
41 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Lehigh County area is 76 (100=best). The US average is 87.
76 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Lehigh County commutes 24.7 minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Lehigh County area is 44 (100=best). The US average is 58.
44 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.