CensusEasy
CITY

Allentown

Pennsylvania · 126,044 residents (2025 est.) · 17.564 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Allentown metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#231Largest by populationof 4,896126,044
The short version

Allentown has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,494. Population has grown 18% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $206,600. At a median age of 33.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 29% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
125,976
+18%since 2000
from 106,632 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7,172 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 6,105 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
33.1
−4%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:126,044 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
103K109K116K122K128K1990201020202024Allentown
2024126K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.8%(8,601)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(8,373)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(8,338)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.7%(9,703)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.5%(10,670)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416%(20,202)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(15,926)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(13,087)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.2%(14,104)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.8%(9,853)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.8%(4,744)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(2,375)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,494
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,016 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,892
+65%since 2000
from $16,282 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.434
−1%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance13%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical12.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$206,600
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,317
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $541 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
43.2%
−9.8 ptssince 2000
from 53.0% in 2000
56.8% rent
Vacancy rate
6.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.7%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
−1%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
41
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Allentown on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64.4%(68,621)
Black6.8%(7,284)
Hispanic / Latino24.4%(26,058)
Asian2.2%(2,375)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic28.9%(36,350)
Black9.8%(12,357)
Hispanic / Latino56.3%(70,952)
Asian1.9%(2,419)
Other3.1%(3,898)
Diversity Score
74
−3%since 2009
from 76 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican25.1%(31,652)
Dominican21%(26,408)
Mexican2.8%(3,505)
South American2.8%(3,473)
Central American2.4%(3,076)
Ecuadorian1.1%(1,409)
Colombian1%(1,219)
Honduran0.9%(1,165)
Guatemalan0.6%(757)
Cuban0.5%(642)
Salvadoran0.5%(588)
Venezuelan0.3%(319)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Panamanian0.2%(305)
Spaniard0.2%(236)
Chilean0.2%(221)
Costa Rican0.2%(210)
Peruvian0.1%(180)
Argentine0.1%(113)
Bolivian0%(12)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.6%(736)
Vietnamese0.3%(424)
Chinese0.3%(369)
Cambodian0.2%(196)
Bangladeshi0.1%(117)
Filipino0.1%(112)
Korean0.1%(96)
Nepalese0.1%(89)
Burmese0%(27)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(8)
Ancestry
German9.6%(12,049)
Irish4.8%(6,001)
American4.4%(5,594)
Italian3.2%(4,051)
English2.6%(3,245)
West Indian2.6%(3,238)
Polish1.7%(2,155)
Arab1.5%(1,878)
Haitian1.4%(1,765)
Syrian1.2%(1,454)
Slovak0.7%(929)
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data
Jamaican0.7%(871)
Hungarian0.7%(819)
French0.6%(744)
Dutch0.4%(560)
Austrian0.3%(432)
Scottish0.3%(384)
Russian0.3%(359)
Ukrainian0.3%(348)
Welsh0.3%(332)
Portuguese0.3%(324)
Greek0.2%(245)
British0.2%(243)
Swedish0.2%(239)
Canadian0.2%(197)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(195)
Egyptian0.1%(155)
Lithuanian0.1%(133)
Nigerian0.1%(131)
Lebanese0.1%(128)
Guyanese0.1%(110)
Norwegian0.1%(109)
Kenyan0.1%(94)
Jordanian0.1%(89)
Brazilian0.1%(87)
Ghanaian0.1%(74)
Swiss0.1%(72)
Barbadian0%(62)
Finnish0%(60)
Croatian0%(30)
Czech0%(25)
Iranian0%(16)
Israeli0%(16)
Serbian0%(14)
Belgian0%(8)
Turkish0%(6)
RANKED:Largest Puerto Rican population · Largest Dominican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.1%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+72%since 2000
from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 72.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
16.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.0%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.3%
−34.0 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
24.0%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−43.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 17.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.4%
−70.3 ptssince 2013
from 81.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.5%
+14.8 ptssince 2017
from 71.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
51.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2016
from 56.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
42.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2016
from 37.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married49.3%(23,858)
Married40.6%(19,665)
Widowed2%(978)
Divorced8.1%(3,909)
Women 15+
Never married44.8%(23,399)
Married36.7%(19,186)
Widowed8.8%(4,575)
Divorced9.7%(5,094)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Allentown

Topeka
Pop 125,795
Athens
Pop 128,612
Evansville
Pop 116,176
Rockford
Pop 147,384
Places similar to Allentown
Head to head

Compare Allentown to nearby cities

ALLENTOWN VS
Phillipsburg
Income$68,324+23%
Home value$193,200−6%
Population15,456−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALLENTOWN VS
Hackettstown
Income$93,083+68%
Home value$361,600+75%
Population10,185−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALLENTOWN VS
Bradley Gardens
Income$177,849+220%
Home value$546,300+164%
Population14,165−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALLENTOWN VS
Budd Lake
Income$114,154+106%
Home value$456,100+121%
Population10,650−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Allentown, Pennsylvania?

Allentown, Pennsylvania has about 125,976 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Allentown, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Allentown, Pennsylvania earns about $55,494 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Allentown, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $206,600, and the typical rent is about $1,317 a month.

How educated are people in Allentown, Pennsylvania?

About 19.1% of adults age 25 and over in Allentown, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Allentown, Pennsylvania?

About 21.0% of people in Allentown, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Allentown, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Allentown, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 20,886 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Pennsylvania
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Allentown with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →