HomePennsylvaniaNorthampton County
Northampton County, Pennsylvania: commercial real estate data.
Northampton County, Pennsylvania had an estimated 322,989 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 312,957, across 370 square miles. County output reached $20.98 bn in 2024, 6,529 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 298 7(a) approvals worth $123.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Northampton County
How many people live in Northampton County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024318,580
- Households122,624
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$89,184
- Median age42.0
- Median gross rent$1,395 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$308,600
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over223,899
- Population under 1861,011
- Share under 1819.2 percent
- Population 65 and over64,743
- Share 65 and over20.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64192,826
- Civilian labor force167,609
- Unemployment rate4.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.1 percent
- Rank by population among Pennsylvania counties13th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included230th of 3,222
Northampton County is the 13th largest of 67 Pennsylvania counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 20.3 percent against 19.2 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Northampton County
Is Northampton County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024322,989
- Census 2020 base population312,957
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.21 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,145
- Births, 20242,674
- Deaths, 20243,129
- Natural change, 2024-455
- Net domestic migration, 2024877
- Net international migration, 20241,727
- Total net migration, 20242,604
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20248,946
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents825th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.21 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Northampton County
Where are people moving to Northampton County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving8,576
- People arriving, from those returns14,331
- Tax returns filed by households leaving8,379
- Net household movement197
- Adjusted gross income arriving$629.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-55.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$73,377
- Average income of a leaving household$81,732
- Largest single originLehigh County (2,684 households)
- Largest single destinationLehigh County (2,549 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh County | 2,684 | 4,512 | $165.0 m |
| Monroe County | 538 | 895 | $40.9 m |
| Warren County | 406 | 650 | $26.1 m |
| Bucks County | 238 | 380 | $20.6 m |
| Kings County | 193 | 342 | $16.9 m |
| Montgomery County | 187 | 303 | $19.3 m |
| Philadelphia County | 163 | 213 | $10.7 m |
| Carbon County | 159 | 274 | $7.9 m |
Households arriving report $8,355 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Lehigh County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Northampton County
What is the Northampton County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$20.98 bn
- County GDP, 2023$20.20 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years30.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Pennsylvania areas BEA publishes13th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes248th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$65,860
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 30.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Northampton County
Employment by industry in Northampton County
- Covered employment, annual average120,976
- Establishments reporting7,088
- Average annual pay$60,298
- Average weekly wage$1,160
- Manufacturing, employment16,494
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$85,688
- Transportation and warehousing, employment15,749
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$53,903
- Health care and social assistance, employment15,448
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$58,682
- Retail trade, employment12,090
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,416
- Accommodation and food services, employment11,928
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment5,772
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 16,494 | 380 | $85,688 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15,749 | 292 | $53,903 |
| Health care and social assistance | 15,448 | 929 | $58,682 |
| Retail trade | 12,090 | 816 | $37,416 |
| Accommodation and food services | 11,928 | 700 | $29,774 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 5,772 | 418 | $46,973 |
| Educational services | 4,841 | 102 | $74,746 |
| Wholesale trade | 4,480 | 284 | $80,243 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 16,494 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Northampton County
How many businesses are in Northampton County?
- Establishments, all industries6,529
- Employment at those establishments121,192
- Annual payroll$6.88 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Northampton County
Building permits in Northampton County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024546
- Declared construction value permitted$139.3 m
- Single family units authorized372
- Multifamily units authorized174
- Multifamily share of units31.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$255,172
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.5
Single-family homes are 68.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Northampton County
SBA loans in Northampton County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded298
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$123.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$415,207
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,230,660
- Largest single approval$4,392,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,901
- Jobs per approval9.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active60
- Distinct industries receiving approvals130
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms32
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter242
- Franchise loans26
- Franchise share of approvals8.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (18)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (52)
- 504 approvals recorded40
- 504 gross approval dollars$44.7 m
- Average 504 approval$1,117,875
- Median 504 approval$788,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval18.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.8
- Most active CDCSouth Eastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania (20)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$168.4 m
The average approval of $415,207 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Northampton County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Northampton County
Do SBA loans in Northampton County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded43
- Paid in full34
- Charged off9
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans20.9 percent
- Status: Paid in full34
- Status: Cancelled49
- Status: Exempt from disclosure189
- Status: Charged off9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed17
Of the 43 loans that have reached a final outcome, 20.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Northampton County
SBA lending by place in Northampton County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending18
- Bethlehem, approvals117
- Easton, approvals101
- Nazareth, approvals17
- Bath, approvals12
- Hellertown, approvals10
- Northampton, approvals8
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | 117 | $46,768,700 |
| Easton | 101 | $42,869,600 |
| Nazareth | 17 | $3,264,300 |
| Bath | 12 | $4,070,700 |
| Hellertown | 10 | $3,862,700 |
| Northampton | 8 | $7,031,000 |
| Bangor | 6 | $2,958,300 |
| Pen Argyl | 6 | $1,894,500 |
| 10 other borrower cities | 21 | $11,011,900 |
Bethlehem accounts for 117 approvals against 101 in Easton. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Northampton County
How large is Northampton County?
- Land area370 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Pennsylvania counties59th of 67
- Width, east to west29.2 mi
- Height, north to south29.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land861
- Establishments per square mile17.65
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Northampton County
Flood risk in Northampton County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book38
- Of those, participating in the NFIP38
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Northampton County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Northampton County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Northampton County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Northampton County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024318,580
- Households122,624
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$89,184
- Median age42.0
Common questions
Northampton County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Northampton County, Pennsylvania?
The Census Bureau estimates 322,989 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 318,580, in 122,624 households, ranking 13th of 67 Pennsylvania counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Northampton County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.21 percent since the 2020 census base of 312,957, to 322,989 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,674 births against 3,129 deaths, with net migration of 2,604. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Northampton County?
$89,184. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $308,600, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,395 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Northampton County?
6,529 establishments, employing 121,192 people with an annual payroll of $6.88 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Northampton County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 16,494 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 120,976 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,298, or $1,160 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Northampton County?
298 7(a) approvals totaling $123.7 m since FY2020, across 60 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 40 504 approvals worth $44.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Northampton County get paid back?
Of the 43 loans that have reached a final outcome, 34 were paid in full and 9 charged off, a charge-off rate of 20.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Northampton County?
546 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $139.3 m. Multifamily was 31.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Northampton County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Northampton County come from?
The largest single origin is Lehigh County, with 2,684 households. Arriving households report an average income of $73,377 against $81,732 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Northampton County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Northampton County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Northampton County
Cities and places in Northampton.
33 Census places lie wholly or partly in Northampton County. All 33 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | city | 77,956 | 117 | 77.4 percent here, 22.6 percent Lehigh County |
| Easton | city | 29,739 | 101 | Wholly in this county |
| Northampton | borough | 10,400 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Wilson | borough | 8,183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Middletown | CDP | 7,628 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Chestnut Hill | CDP | 7,086 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hellertown | borough | 6,118 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Nazareth | borough | 6,043 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Bangor | borough | 5,163 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Eastlawn Gardens | CDP | 3,722 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Palmer Heights | CDP | 3,624 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pen Argyl | borough | 3,495 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Wind Gap | borough | 3,360 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| North Catasauqua | borough | 3,014 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Freemansburg | borough | 2,894 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bath | borough | 2,864 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Walnutport | borough | 2,085 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Old Orchard | CDP | 1,910 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tatamy | borough | 1,464 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Roseto | borough | 1,362 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Morgan Hill | CDP | 1,348 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Bangor | borough | 1,274 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| West Easton | borough | 1,245 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Cherryville | CDP | 1,159 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Belfast | CDP | 1,144 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Raubsville | CDP | 1,092 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stockertown | borough | 775 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Martins Creek | CDP | 662 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Portland | borough | 546 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Glendon | borough | 374 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Bethel | CDP | 334 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Ackermanville | CDP | 240 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Chapman | borough | 175 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 298 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Northampton County, the largest being Catasauqua (2), Lower Nazareth (1), Northamptom (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.