Best Life Index › States › Pennsylvania › Cities › Allentown

Pennsylvania city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Allentown?

What it costs to live in Allentown, and how it compares with other Pennsylvania cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

24

42nd best value in Pennsylvania

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Pennsylvania cities.

Overall livability

39

28th overall in Pennsylvania

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Allentown is home to about 125,250 people. A typical home runs $145,700 and a household earns around $47,700, a price-to-income ratio of 3.0. Among Pennsylvania's largest cities, it ranks 42nd for value and 28th overall.

Allentown at a glance

Median home price

$145,700

34th in PA of 44

Median rent

$1,100/mo

Median household income

$47,700

Home price to income

3.0x

Unemployment

9.6%

39th in PA of 44

School rating

3/10

25th in PA of 44

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in PA of 44

Walk score

14/100

See your real take-home pay in Pennsylvania

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after Pennsylvania taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top Pennsylvania cities ranked  ยท  Pennsylvania state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Pennsylvania only. Updated 2026.