City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Allentown, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Allentown - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

125,320
Residents
$53,403
Median income
$188,900
Median home
$1,634
Median rent (state)

Allentown - the verdict

Nationally, Allentown sits in the 25th percentile for household income and the 36th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

25th
percentile, household income
39th
percentile, home value
64th
percentile, median rent
36th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Allentown, PA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 125,320 residents in Allentown, a mid-sized U.S. city within Pennsylvania. Median household income here is $53,403 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.3%. Home values in Allentown run a median of $188,900, and the median resident age is 32.4 years. About 19.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 271 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Active). Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1841.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 53.1°F with 47.4 inches of precipitation per year and 33.1 inches of snowfall.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,634 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $260 across Pennsylvania, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

125,320 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$53,403 /yr

Poverty 17.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Allentown compare to other US cities?

Where Allentown sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 39% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% pricier than other cities
Safety 36% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Pennsylvania and the picture shifts: Allentown ranks #340 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Allentown against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Pennsylvania only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Pennsylvania-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Allentown toward the top of Pennsylvania's cities

Among the 1,856 Pennsylvania cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Allentown ranks #240 - the 87th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Allentown only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,353 of 1,765
23rd percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Gross Rent
#200 of 1,865
85th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Home Value
#726 of 1,790
59th percentile in Pennsylvania
Poverty Rate
#240 of 1,856
87th percentile in Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,061 of 1,861
43rd percentile in Pennsylvania

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Pennsylvania only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

25thIncome percentile
36thSafety percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income · 36th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Allentown's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Allentown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Allentown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Allentown's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$188,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 61% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Allentown $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Allentown, PA Allentown, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Allentown, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Allentown, PA median $53,403/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Allentown, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Allentown, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
125,320
Median Income
$53,403
Median Home Value
$188,900
Median Age
32.4
Poverty Rate
17.3%
Labor force participation
57.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1841.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
272.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1569.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.1°F
Annual Precipitation
47.4"
Annual Snowfall
33.1"

Schools

Total Schools
34
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
125,000 residents125,500 residents126,000 residents126,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 125,714 residents 126,044 residents ▲ +0.3%
Allentown's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Active
Total Permits (2024)
271
housing units authorized
Single-Family
61
detached homes
Multifamily
210
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 27
2023 27
2024 271

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.2%
Carpool
10.2%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
4.2%
Work from Home
7.9%
Other
3.2%

Based on 54,688 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Allentown sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,634/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Reading
94,836 people
Erie
94,156 people
Bethlehem
77,069 people
Scranton
76,074 people
Lancaster
57,683 people
Levittown
50,930 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Allentown's 125,320 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Palm Bay, FL
125,273 people
Thousand Oaks, CA
125,676 people
Simi Valley, CA
125,769 people
Meridian, ID
124,865 people
Pearland, TX
125,983 people
Vallejo, CA
124,637 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Allentown's $53,403 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bridgeport, OH
$53,409 median income
O'Kean, AR
$53,393 median income
Vidalia, GA
$53,393 median income
Sutherland, IA
$53,393 median income
Charlack, MO
$53,393 median income
Cherry Tree, OK
$53,393 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Allentown, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Allentown, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 42.3% 13.0% 21.2% 20.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 53.8% White 42.3% Black or African American 13.0% Asian 2.5% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 21.2% Two or more races 20.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Allentown compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Allentown (this city) 125,320 $53,403
Reading 94,836 $45,599
Erie 94,156 $43,397
Bethlehem 77,069 $66,443
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Allentown, PA?

What is the population of Allentown, PA? +

125,320 people live in Allentown, PA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Allentown, PA? +

In Allentown, the typical household earns $53,403 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Allentown? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Allentown; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is Allentown, PA safe? +

Allentown has a total crime rate of 1841.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Allentown, PA? +

Homes in Allentown carry a median value of $188,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Allentown? +

Climate normals put Allentown's yearly average temperature at 53.1°F, 47.4 inches of precipitation, and 33.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.