Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ Local Data & Statistics

State: PA-NJ
Total population: 873,603 Household income: $84,587 Rent: $1,365

Overview

Total population
873,603
Rent
$1,365
Year built
1970
Household income
$84,587
Per capita income
$44,264
Poverty rate
10.2%
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Household size
2.5 persons
Rent over 30% of income
48.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
PA-NJ
Total population
873,603
Adults over 25
613,839
Total households
339,656
Household size
2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$84,587
Per capita income
$44,264
Poverty rate
10.2%
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Rent over 30% of income
48.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$1,365
Year built
1970
Households that rent
30.3%
Households that own
69.7%
Rooms per home (all homes)
6.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
70.5%
Black
6%
Asian
3.1%
Two or more races
11.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
19.9%
Not Hispanic or Latino
80.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
86.3%
Commute time to work
27 mins
Work from home
13.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
22.7%
High school graduate or GED
32.6%
Some college or associate degree
11.2%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
33.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ with: Pennsylvania New Jersey United States

Allentown Metro Area

Total population873,603
Rent$1,365
Year built1970
Household income$84,587
Per capita income$44,264
Poverty rate10.2%
Unemployment rate3.9%

Pennsylvania State

Total population13,018,639
Rent$1,209
Year built1965
Household income$77,971
Per capita income$44,355
Poverty rate11.7%
Unemployment rate3.6%

New Jersey State

Total population9,343,809
Rent$1,720
Year built1970
Household income$103,556
Per capita income$54,253
Poverty rate9.7%
Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499
Rent$1,413
Year built1980
Household income$80,734
Per capita income$44,673
Poverty rate12.5%
Unemployment rate4%
Metric Metro AreaAllentown Metro AreaStatePennsylvaniaState New JerseyCountryUnited States
Total population873,60313,018,6399,343,809334,922,499
Rent$1,365$1,209$1,720$1,413
Year built1970196519701980
Household income$84,587$77,971$103,556$80,734
Per capita income$44,264$44,355$54,253$44,673
Poverty rate10.2%11.7%9.7%12.5%
Unemployment rate3.9%3.6%4.5%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

Allentown metro area spans parts of PA and NJ.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,365, while the typical household income is $84,587. Rent in this metro area is higher than Pennsylvania and similar to the U.S., and household income is higher than Pennsylvania and similar to the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 30.3% of households. About 48.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 10.2%, which is lower than both Pennsylvania and the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 3.9%, which is higher than the Pennsylvania rate and similar to the national rate.

 

Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ — Poverty vs Unemployment

 

💰 Rent in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,365 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

Annual Household Income: $84,587

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

Estimated Rate: 10.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

In Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ, households that rent: 102,884 (30.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 102,884 30.3%
Owner-Occupied 236,772 69.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

In Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 50,111 (48.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 50,111 48.7%
Other renter households 52,773 51.3%
Total renter households 102,884 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

Less than High School: 139,307 people (22.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 200,223 people (32.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 68,680 people (11.2%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 205,629 people (33.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 613,839

📊 Unemployment Rate in Allentown Metro Area, PA-NJ

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

 

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.