A wrestling standout in North Carolina, Trey Cornish was recruited by Lehigh University and came to the Lehigh Valley sight unseen in 2016. Fulfilling his childhood dream, he studied engineering as he wrestled in NCAA Division I.
When it came time to launch his career, Cornish found the Lehigh Valley ripe with career opportunities and made the very easy decision to make the Lehigh Valley his home. He accepted a position at Lutron Electronics and now coaches the girls’ wrestling team at Easton Area School District.
“There seems to be a very strong sense of community. You can talk to anybody in the valley. You name drop one person, and they know everything about them, their uncle, their cousin, they know three fun facts,” Cornish said. “There just seems to be something really special about the area. That’s definitely something that attracted me and definitely keeps me here.”
Cornish is among the growing number of young people who are choosing to call the Lehigh Valley home. Between 2020-22, the number of residents between 18 and 34 grew by 3.2%, three times the rate of the Lehigh Valley’s overall growth rate across all age groups, according to a Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) analysis of new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program.
Generation Z -- those 20-24 -- are driving the growth among young adults in the Lehigh Valley. Northampton County led the state in the growth of the number of people between 20 to 24 years old, gaining 2,885 people in that age bracket since 2020. That’s a 14% increase, outpacing the state’s growth rate of 3.5% and the nation’s rate of 3.3% for that demographic.
That age range is important because it coincides with the time many young people are entering the workforce. A skilled workforce is essential in attracting and retaining businesses that provide family-sustaining wages, the core of LVEDC’s nonprofit mission.
Population is growing alongside the region’s economic productivity. Posting a record high Gross Domestic Product of $47 billion in 2021, the Lehigh Valley boasts a diverse economy with manufacturing leading the way.
“It’s a testament to the growth and transformation of the Lehigh Valley that Northampton County is now the top county in Pennsylvania for the growth of young people,” said Don Cunningham, President & CEO of LVEDC. “A few decades ago, we were fighting what was then called ‘brain drain,’ the exodus of young people. In a short period of time, we’ve taken the lead in retaining and attracting the coveted demographic of young people, ensuring that our future remains bright.”
The Lehigh Valley’s growth in recent years has been fueled by people moving into the region. Between 2020-22, Lehigh County was among the top 4% in the nation in terms of people moving here from international locations. Northampton County was among the top 4% in the nation in terms of those moving here from other U.S. counties.
"The current state of Northampton County has never been better," Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure said. "Our county has a growing economy with a diverse workforce. My work as County Executive is to ensure that we keep property taxes stable and our future green for all generations that live and move to our region. We have a plentiful array of outdoor recreational activities and are home to highly ranked public schools and universities. These essential elements build a foundation for the outstanding quality of life in Northampton County."
The Lehigh Valley is among the faster growing regions in Pennsylvania, which lost population during the pandemic. The population in the Lehigh Valley, located 90 minutes from New York City and an hour from Philadelphia, rose to more than 694,800 people in 2022 as nearby metropolitan areas lost population.
Younger residents say the Lehigh Valley provides many professional opportunities. Giana Jarrah, who grew up in Allentown and attended Lehigh University, extolled the community support that helped her launch With Meraki Co., a women’s health business, while she also holds down a full-time job as a product engineer at ABEC, a Bethlehem company that delivers customized single-use stainless steel and hybrid solutions and services for manufacturing in the biopharmaceutical industry.
“I just felt so incredibly supported with my brand. And with my products. Lehigh University has my entire heart,” Jarrah said. “They've been such an incredible support system. Just the amount of support I've received through my journey has really kept me here.”
There are also opportunities for development in a variety of disciplines and skill levels. Nate Snyder, who graduated from Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in 2015, was hired as an apprentice at B. Braun Medical. The company sent him to its global headquarters in Germany for a six-month internship and he returned to the Lehigh Valley as a craftsperson/machinist. He was promoted to injection mold designer in 2021. While training for his job, he loved the idea that he was “adding value” to what he was making.
“I was taking a raw piece of metal and making it into something useful that was worthwhile or can be used for something and divvied up,” Snyder said. “That's been a big thing throughout my career is always making sure I'm adding value to something.”
The Lehigh Valley’s quality of life has been heralded by both those who live here and by experts from afar who use data to rate livability.
Earlier this year, 86% of Lehigh Valley residents who responded to the Lehigh Valley Quality of Life Survey described the quality of life in the region as “excellent” or “good.” Those who believe life is getting better credited the arrival of more businesses, better employment opportunities, and more things to do in the region.
The survey, by LehighValleyNews.com, was conducted by the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion and funded in part by LVEDC and the Lehigh Valley Partnership.
Zip Codes in the Lehigh Valley were among the America’s hottest in 2021 and 2022, according to Realtor.com, a leading source of real estate analytics.