Libardo Estupinan-Perez moved from Canada to the Lehigh Valley, sight unseen, for a job as a chemical engineer at Air Products, a global leader in the gas industry.

Now, a year later, he and his wife plan to stay for the rich quality of life, calling the Lehigh Valley “very alive.” 

“We like the fact that it’s not rural, but it’s not the feeling of a big city like New York or Philadelphia. This is kind of something in between,” said Estupinan-Perez, 37. “You don’t need to drive a lot to go to the mountains and to hiking, cycling, some things we enjoy a lot.”

Estupinan-Perez and his wife were among the more than 7,300 people who moved here during the pandemic, making the Lehigh Valley among the fastest-growing regions in the Northeast. With a combined population exceeding 694,800, Northampton and Lehigh counties are two of the 27 counties in Pennsylvania that grew between mid-2020 and mid-2022, according to new Census estimates. Among the fastest-growing segments is the 18-to-34-year age group, a key demographic sought by employers.

The growth is being fueled by migration, a long-term trend that was amplified during the pandemic when residents were leaving denser urban cores.

The Lehigh Valley, which is 90 minutes from New York City and an hour from Philadelphia, ranks among the fastest-growing regions, but for different reasons.

Lehigh County’s growth was fueled by people moving from other countries. Lehigh ranked in the top 4% of all U.S. counties for net international migration, with a gain of 2,584 people moving here between April 2020 and July 2022, according to the Census data.

Fueling Northampton County’s growth was people relocating from elsewhere in Pennsylvania and other states. The net domestic migration was a gain of 6,941, which puts Northampton County within the top 4% of all U.S. counties.

Three of the top five Pennsylvania municipalities with the greatest population growth were in the Lehigh Valley. Easton ranked first, growing by 2,215 people. Bethlehem was third, growing by 1,822 people. Upper Macungie Township was fifth, growing by 1,502 people.

While the location near larger metropolitan regions are a draw, the Lehigh Valley is not a bedroom community. With a GDP of $47 billion, the Lehigh Valley ranks as the nation’s 65^th largest economy, with manufacturing leading the way in a balanced economy. Manufacturing output is $8.4 billion, closely followed by the finance, education, and professional service sectors.

And the workforce has grown too, surpassing pre-pandemic levels to a record high of 335,000 jobs. In 2022, the region ranked No. 2 among regions its size in terms of new economic development.

“Today, economic growth is about population growth,” said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC). “And population growth is about a region’s quality of life. The Lehigh Valley is growing in both population and jobs because it is a desirable location. Both people and businesses want places that are safe, have good education and health care, and the amenities attractive to a diverse population.”  

Estupinan-Perez, a Colombian native, and his wife, Lina Parra, learned quickly about what the Lehigh Valley has to offer through LINC, a nonprofit in Bethlehem that assists newcomers in finding housing and getting acclimated. 

From Musikfest and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to breweries and wineries, he and Parra were pleased to find plenty to do, during all four seasons.

“The amount of activities going on all the time is quite significant. All the festivals during the summer and even during the winter,” he said.

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.

Lehigh Valley ZIP codes have been ranked among the hottest by Realtor.com two years in a row, and one of its cities was named as among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2023 by Livability.com, a website that ranks America’s most livable mid-sized cities.

(Photo courtesy of Libardo Estupinan-Perez).