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City · 125,976 residents · Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Allentown , Pennsylvania

In Allentown, a typical home is worth $206,600 and typical rent is $1,317 a month. Compared with all of Lehigh County, the typical home value is 31% lower, typical household income is 31% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $206,600

    31% below the county

    19% below Pennsylvania

    • Allentown
    • Lehigh
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical rent

    $1,317a month

    5% below the county

    9% above Pennsylvania

    • Allentown
    • Lehigh
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical household income

    $55,494a year

    31% below the county

    29% below Pennsylvania

    • Allentown
    • Lehigh
    • Pennsylvania

  • Households that own their home

    43%

    22 points below the county

    26 points below Pennsylvania

    • Allentown
    • Lehigh
    • Pennsylvania

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$315,694
3.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,686 a month
3.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Allentown is in Lehigh County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lehigh County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Allentown apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 43% of households in Allentown own their home, against 66% in Lehigh County.

  2. The typical home in Allentown is worth $206,600, 31% less than in Lehigh County as a whole ($300,400).

  3. The typical household income in Allentown is $55,494, 31% less than in Lehigh County as a whole ($80,079).

  4. Nearby, in Catasauqua, the typical rent is $1,031: 22% less than in Allentown ($1,317).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Allentown

What homes there are in Allentown, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes here are varied: attached houses (townhouses) are 36% of them, more than in Lehigh County (25%), and no kind reaches half.

Year built

Homes in Allentown are older: the typical year built is 1952; in Lehigh County, 1968.

In Allentown, 23% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 54% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 67% in Lehigh County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Allentown sit under the FHA limit for Lehigh County ($541,287): about 97%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 83% of rented homes in Allentown cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Lehigh County ($1,839).

With a mortgage

$1,550 a month

Lehigh County: $1,885 a month

Without a mortgage

$619 a month

Lehigh County: $765 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Lehigh County: 64%

In Allentown, 62% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,550 a month, against $1,885 in Lehigh County. Without one it drops to $619.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Allentown rose 57% since 2015–2019, more than in Lehigh County (44%).

Much as in Lehigh County, the typical rent in Allentown rose 31% since 2015–2019.

While home values in Allentown changed +57% and rent +31%, the typical household income rose 35%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAllentownLehigh CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.7%3.7%4.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.7%2.0%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.602.562.392.53
Drive alone 70%73%68%69%
Carpool 11%8%8%9%
Public transit 3%1%4%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%4%3%
Work from home 9%14%16%15%
Other means 3%2%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Lehigh County, the rental vacancy rate in Allentown is 3.7%.

More than one person per room: that is how 3.7% of households in Allentown live, more than in Lehigh County (2.0%).

By size, households in Allentown look like those in Lehigh County: 2.60 people on average.

More people carpool to work in Allentown than in Lehigh County: 11% against 8%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Allentown?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Allentown, worth $206,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Allentown, which is $55,494 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $80,151 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lehigh County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Allentown. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,231 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,870

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$202,858
Total interest
$291,865
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,489 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,295 a month

  • Tight

    $1,295 to $1,665 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,665 a month

    Your payment · 40%

Compared with the typical household income in Allentown ($55,494 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,870
Principal & interest$1,374
Property tax$319
Home insurance$86
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$91

You need at least $7,231 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Allentown and Lehigh County

Allentown is in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Allentown's own numbers

Typical home value
$206,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,317
Typical yearly household income
$55,494
Households that own their home
43%
Effective property tax rate
1.85%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lehigh County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,839
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+61%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lehigh County.

Everything about Lehigh County

Buying

Buying a home in Allentown

A typical home in Allentown is worth $206,600: 31% below the county and 19% below Pennsylvania. With the typical household income in Allentown ($55,494 a year), a typical home costs 3.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Allentown 3.7 years
  • Lehigh 3.8 years
  • Pennsylvania 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lehigh County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lehigh County rose 95% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lehigh County.

Period County Pennsylvania U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.1% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +61% +48% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +95% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Allentown next to Lehigh County, Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Allentown $206,600
  • Lehigh $300,400
  • Pennsylvania $254,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Allentown $1,317
  • Lehigh $1,383
  • Pennsylvania $1,209
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Allentown $55,494
  • Lehigh $80,079
  • Pennsylvania $77,971
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Allentown next to Lehigh County and Pennsylvania
Measure Allentown Lehigh County Pennsylvania U.S.
Typical home value $206,600 $300,400 $254,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,317 $1,383 $1,209 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $55,494 $80,079 $77,971 $80,734
Households that own their home 43% 66% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,829 $4,651 $3,311 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.85% 1.55% 1.3% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 55% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lehigh County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Allentown

For a typical $206,600 home in Allentown, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Allentown's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,870a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,231
    Cash to close
    $13,429
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $91

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,832a month

    Down payment
    $10,330
    Cash to close
    $16,528
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $98

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,524a month

    Down payment
    $41,320
    Cash to close
    $47,518
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,715a month

    Down payment
    $30,990
    Cash to close
    $37,188
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Allentown and for Lehigh County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Allentown

1.85%of the home’s value each year

$3,829 a year for the typical owner in Allentown.

  • Allentown 1.85%
  • Lehigh 1.55%
  • Pennsylvania 1.3%

What Pennsylvania publishes Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Pennsylvania

Flood risk in Lehigh County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lehigh County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
1,167
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County Pennsylvania U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 23% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Allentown

Typical rent in Allentown is $1,317 a month: 5% below the county. In Allentown, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lehigh County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,839 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.37 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lehigh County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,302 $25.04 $52,080
1 bedroom $1,519 $29.21 $60,760
2 bedrooms $1,839 $35.37 $73,560
3 bedrooms $2,306 $44.35 $92,240
4 bedrooms $2,482 $47.73 $99,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Allentown

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Allentown has 5 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,690 in 18102 to $2,270 in 18104.

3 of the 5 are above the fair market rent for Lehigh County ($1,839).

  • 18101 $1,890$2,370
  • 18102 $1,690$2,120
  • 18103 $1,850$2,320
  • 18104 $2,270$2,850
  • 18109 $1,810$2,270

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Allentown when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Allentown

HUD lists 33 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Allentown. These are the largest.

  • Bnai Brith House 1616 W Liberty St, Allentown 18102 271 low-income homes · For older adults (610) 821-0207
  • Allentown House 1827 W Walnut St, Allentown 18104 160 homes, 159 low-income · For older adults (610) 435-4131
  • Walnut Manor 1519 W Walnut St, Allentown 18102 150 low-income homes · Run by Allentown Housing Authority · Average payment: $372 a month · Average wait: 32 months (610) 439-8678
  • John Gross Towers 1339 W Allen St, Allentown 18102 147 low-income homes · Run by Allentown Housing Authority · Average payment: $366 a month · Average wait: 31 months (610) 439-8678
  • 700 Building 700 W Union St, Allentown 18101 139 homes, 138 low-income · Run by Allentown Housing Authority · Average payment: $376 a month · Average wait: 32 months (610) 439-8678

See all 56 buildings in Lehigh County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Allentown

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lehigh County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Allentown

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Allentown or Lehigh County. The ones below are statewide in Pennsylvania: they work in Allentown the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Pennsylvania

Housing counselors near Allentown

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Allentown, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, Inc.

    1337 E 5th St, Bethlehem · 7 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (610) 691-5620

  • Greater Community Development Corporation

    403 Pastor Fred Davis St, Easton · 15 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (610) 596-1134

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks, Inc.

    210 N 5th St, Reading · 29 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (610) 372-8433

All counseling agencies in Pennsylvania

Help in Spanish near Allentown

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Allentown

HUD’s record names them for Allentown or Lehigh County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Allentown Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 439-8678
  • Lehigh County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 965-4514

All housing agencies in Pennsylvania Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lehigh County

These cities are also in Lehigh County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lehigh County Housing in Pennsylvania

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Allentown, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lehigh County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Allentown.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Allentown

Short answers with the numbers for Allentown and all of Lehigh County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Allentown?

The typical home value in Allentown is $206,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lehigh County it is $300,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Allentown?

Typical rent in Allentown is $1,317 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lehigh County is $1,839.

What is the FHA loan limit in Allentown?

Allentown uses the FHA limit for all of Lehigh County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Allentown?

The typical homeowner in Allentown pays $3,829 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.85% of the home’s value; in Lehigh County, the rate is 1.55%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Allentown?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lehigh County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).