Data Centers in Lehigh Valley
2 locations found
Need Help?
Tell us about your needs and our team of experts will help you find and choose the perfect Data Center and solution at the best price.
Explore Other Markets in Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley – Strategic Edge for Northeast Workloads
High-Availability Alternative to Tier 1 Hubs
Lehigh Valley serves as the essential low-latency relief valve for the saturated New York and Philadelphia markets. It is the primary choice for enterprises that need proximity to the Northeast corridor while demanding lower occupancy costs and significant tax incentives. This market ensures high-speed delivery to tens of millions of users without the operational friction of a primary metro.
Lehigh Valley: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Reliable regional transit with direct paths to Tier 1 hubs. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Access via private wave to Philadelphia or New York. |
| Power Cost | $0.10/kWh – as of September 2025 | Industrial rates remain competitive for the Northeast region. |
| Disaster Risk | High (84.0/100) – as of September 2025 | Key risks include riverine flooding and winter events. |
| Tax Incentives | Yes | Sales and use tax exemption for data center equipment. |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% – as of September 2025 | Standard Pennsylvania state rate applies to equipment. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Lehigh Valley provides a reliable interconnection environment for businesses that need to bypass the congestion of larger neighboring metros. As of September 2025, the infrastructure supports a steady flow of regional and national data traffic.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Carrier count: over 10. As of September 2025, approximately 10–12 carriers provide diverse fiber entry points to the local facilities. This neutrality allows for competitive pricing and resilient pathing for enterprise WAN and internet transit.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: 0, enabling access to 0 cloud regions. As of September 2025, there are no native on-ramps within the metro. Most deployments leverage high-capacity transport to Philadelphia or New York City to reach AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), or Microsoft Azure.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): There are no major public IXPs located directly in Lehigh Valley. Local operators typically facilitate private peering or provide direct transport to national hubs like DE-CIX New York or the Philadelphia Internet Exchange to ensure efficient traffic routing.
Bare Metal: Serviceable options are available for organizations needing dedicated hardware without the overhead of colocation management. As of September 2025, providers such as ColoCrossing and Hivelocity offer reliable bare metal configurations in the region.
Power Analysis
Power in Lehigh Valley is characterized by a mix of legacy industrial reliability and an evolving generation profile.
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is approximately $0.10/kWh, as of September 2025. This rate provides a clear cost advantage over the higher utility tariffs found in the immediate New York City metro area, directly improving the bottom line for power-intensive deployments.
Power Grid Reliability: The local grid is well-engineered, drawing from a generation mix weighted toward natural gas and nuclear energy. Facilities in the major data center corridors benefit from redundant feeds and multi-substation support, minimizing the risk of prolonged outages.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Lehigh Valley is a critical logistics and technology hub for the Mid-Atlantic.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers here are strategically located near Allentown and the I-78 corridor. This placement is ideal for the logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors that dominate the regional economy and require low-latency access to operational data.
Regional Market Reach: From a central Lehigh Valley facility, providers can reach over 40% of the United States population within a single day’s truck drive. This makes it an excellent site for content distribution and edge computing for the entire Northeast.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Pennsylvania offers a specific sales and use tax exemption for computer data center equipment. This program significantly reduces the initial capital expenditure for server refreshes and infrastructure builds, making the state a more attractive destination for large-scale deployments.
Natural Disaster Risk
The natural disaster profile for Lehigh Valley is categorized as High, with a score of 84.0/100 as of September 2025. While the region is inland and shielded from direct coastal impacts, it faces specific environmental challenges.
- Riverine Flooding: A primary concern for specific low-lying areas near the Lehigh and Delaware rivers.
- Ice Storms and Winter Weather: Significant seasonal events that require specialized facility management and reliable backup fuel logistics.
- Strong Wind: High-velocity wind events can impact overhead utilities and building envelopes.
- Lightning: Frequent summer storms present a persistent risk to electrical and networking equipment.
- Heat Waves: Periods of extreme temperature require efficient cooling systems and high-spec HVAC maintenance.
Other natural hazards are considered minor or are not listed as material threats to data center operations in this geography. Regardless of the score, facilities in the area are generally built to exceed local building codes to mitigate these specific risks.
