What are the schools like in Allentown, PA?

Allentown is served primarily by Allentown City SD. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Allentown?

The median household income in Allentown, PA is $52,449 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.2%.

What is the weather like in Allentown, PA?

Allentown has an average high temperature of 38.4°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.1 inches.

Allentown, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Allentown, PA affordable or expensive?

Allentown's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Allentown is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $168,800 and the median rent is $1,202 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Allentown, PA?

Allentown has a violent crime rate of 272.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1569.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Allentown, PA a Good Place to Live?

Allentown is a mid-sized city of 125,292 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $52,449 and a 9.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Allentown stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Allentown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Allentown city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.4

Allentown's overall cost of living index is 98.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Allentown costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Allentown, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$168,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,202	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	42.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,449	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Allentown's violent crime rate is 272.1 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

272.1 /100k

Property Crime

1569.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Allentown is served primarily by Allentown City SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Allentown, PA	National Avg
School District	Allentown City SD	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Allentown sees average highs of 38.4°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 47.4 inches of annual precipitation and 33.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Allentown, PA
Average High — January	38.4°F
Average High — July	86.4°F
Annual Precipitation	47.4"
Annual Snowfall	33.1"

Demographics

Metric	Allentown, PA	National Avg
Population	125,292	—
Median Age	32.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	47.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	13.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	33.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.8%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	12.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dorneyville, PA 2 mi Fullerton, PA 3 mi Cetronia, PA 3 mi Emmaus, PA 4 mi Catasauqua, PA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Allentown

Allentown, PA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

18103 18104 18109 18102 18101

Allentown vs Other Cities

Allentown, PA vs Dorneyville, PA Allentown, PA vs Fullerton, PA Allentown, PA vs Cetronia, PA Allentown, PA vs Emmaus, PA Allentown, PA vs Catasauqua, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Allentown, PA affordable or expensive?

Allentown's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Allentown roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $168,800 and median rent is $1,202/month.

What is the crime rate in Allentown, PA?

Allentown's violent crime rate is 272.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1569.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Allentown?

Public schools in Allentown are operated by Allentown City SD. The district has 16 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 18.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Allentown, PA a good place to live?

Allentown, PA has a population of 125,292, a median household income of $52,449, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Allentown?

Allentown averages 38.4°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.4 inches with about 33.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Allentown?

Allentown, PA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 18103, 18104, 18109, 18102, 18101.

What is the population of Allentown?

The population of Allentown, Pennsylvania is 125,292 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Allentown?

Key numbers for living in Allentown: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $168,800, median household income $52,449, crime index 73 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Allentown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.