Census tract · Lehigh County
Census Tract 21, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Census Tract 21, GEOID 42077002100, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, entirely within Allentown. 7,283 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,205); the 2020 Census counted 7,406.
Residents, 2020-2024
7,283
±1,205 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 7,406
Median household income
$41,296
±$19,154 (90% margin)
Lehigh County: $80,079
Median home value
$163,600
±$11,900 (90% margin)
Lehigh County: $300,400
Median gross rent
$1,153
±$126 (90% margin)
Lehigh County: $1,383
Where is Census Tract 21?
Census Tract 21 is one of 81 census tracts in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It covers 0.49 square miles of land, 15,145 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 42077002100, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Allentown | 100% |
6 census tracts border Census Tract 21: Tract 14.01 ($50,608), Tract 20 ($52,177), Tract 22.02 ($39,632), Tract 23.02 ($89,861), Tract 67.03 ($145,583) and Tract 97 ($36,199). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 21?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 21's population at 7,283 (±1,205) in 2,764 households; the 2020 Census counted 7,406 residents and 3,004 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,283 ±1,205 | 125,976 |
| Households | 2,764 ±340 | 46,374 |
| Average household size | 2.62 ±0.30 | 2.60 |
| Housing units | 3,006 ±316 | 49,502 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 21?
The median resident of Census Tract 21 is 34.4 years old; 21.9% are under 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 62.0%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 26.1%. 23.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 ±3.7 | 33.1 |
| Under 18 years | 21.9% ±6.1 pts | 24.4% |
| 65 years and over | 12.2% ±4.7 pts | 13.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 62.0% ±7.3 pts | 56.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 26.1% ±5.7 pts | 28.9% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.5% ±3.6 pts | 9.8% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.5 pts | 1.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±2.3 pts | 2.5% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.6% |
| Born outside the United States | 23.3% ±8.5 pts | 24.0% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 58.7% ±9.8 pts | 48.2% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±2.7 pts | 3.8% |
| With a disability | 22.4% ±5.5 pts | 16.2% |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.0% ±4.1 pts | 11.4% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.7% ±5.3 pts | 81.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.9% ±6.8 pts | 19.1% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.1% ±3.6 pts | 5.7% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.8% ±3.7 pts | 87.8% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Census Tract 21 earn?
Half of the 2,764 households in Census Tract 21 earn less than $41,296 a year (±$19,154), against $80,079 across Lehigh County: 75th highest of the county's 81 tracts with a reliable estimate. 31.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,296 ±$19,154 | $55,494 |
| Mean household income | $54,491 ±$8,114 | $70,457 |
| Per capita income | $21,832 ±$3,146 | $26,892 |
| People below the poverty line | 31.1% ±9.4 pts | 21.0% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 47.3% ±21.7 pts | 30.4% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 41.1% ±10.0 pts | 30.6% |
| Households with a computer | 85.7% ±7.2 pts | 93.2% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.6% ±8.2 pts | 86.5% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Census Tract 21?
Owners occupy 39.1% of Census Tract 21's occupied homes and renters 60.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $163,600 by its owner (±$11,900). The median renter pays $1,153 a month including utilities, and 54.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $163,600 ±$11,900 | $206,600 |
| Median gross rent | $1,153 ±$126 | $1,317 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 54.8% ±13.1 pts | 50.0% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,549 ±$255 | $1,550 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 39.1% ±8.6 pts | 43.2% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 60.9% ±8.6 pts | 56.8% |
| Housing units | 3,006 ±316 | 49,502 |
| Single-family detached homes | 9.0% ±4.4 pts | 25.9% |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.3% |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±2.7 pts | 0.7% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 3.8% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 60.7% ±9.8 pts | 37.9% |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.5% ±5.6 pts | 16.5% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Census Tract 21 get to work?
71.8% of Census Tract 21's workers drive alone and 14.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.1%.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.7% ±7.7 pts | 63.0% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.1% ±4.6 pts | 9.0% |
| Drove alone to work | 71.8% ±9.9 pts | 69.7% |
| Carpooled | 10.4% ±5.7 pts | 11.1% |
| Public transportation | 2.0% ±1.7 pts | 3.3% |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 3.7% |
| Worked from home | 14.8% ±7.3 pts | 9.0% |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.1 min ±2.9 | 24.6 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Census Tract 21 compare with the other tracts in Lehigh County?
Among Lehigh County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 21 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Lehigh County | In Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5th of 81 | 3rd of 28 |
| Residents per square mile | 9th of 81 | 9th of 28 |
| Median household income | 75th of 81 | 22nd of 28 |
| Per capita income | 71st of 81 | 18th of 28 |
| Median home value | 73rd of 81 | 21st of 28 |
| Median gross rent | 67th of 79 | 25th of 28 |
| Poverty rate | 4th of 54 | 4th of 24 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54th of 79 | 7th of 26 |
| Median age | 62nd of 81 | 11th of 28 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67th of 80 | 15th of 27 |
The tracts next to it on Lehigh County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4 | 72nd | $44,918±$18,839 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 18 | 73rd | $44,570±$3,624 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 5 | 74th | $44,273±$15,819 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 21 | 75th | $41,296±$19,154 |
| Tract 22.02 | 76th | $39,632±$17,445 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 16 | 77th | $38,838±$2,002 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 10 | 78th | $36,510±$8,812 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 21?
1 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 21 on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections