Moving to Allentown, Pennsylvania

by btobers · Published June 27, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

The current estimated population of Allentown, Pennsylvania is 125,944, with 48.6% male and 51.4% female. Allentown has seen significant growth in recent decades, driven by its status as a major economic and cultural hub in the Lehigh Valley.

City Facts

Year founded: 1762
County: Lehigh
Land area: 18.0 square miles
Population density: Approximately 7,000 people per square mile
Area code: 610
Zip codes: 18101–18109

Geography and Location

Allentown, Pennsylvania is located in the Lehigh Valley, about 50 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. As the third-largest city in Pennsylvania, Allentown is a major center for commerce, healthcare, and education. The city is known for its historic downtown, cultural institutions, and numerous parks, including the popular Cedar Beach Park and Trexler Memorial Park. Allentown’s location along the Lehigh River and its proximity to major highways such as Interstate 78 and Route 22 make it a convenient location for businesses and residents alike. The city’s economy has diversified in recent years, with growth in the healthcare, education, and service sectors.

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.5 years
Median household income: $32,016
Median house value: $76,900

Population by Race

Races in Allentown:

White Non-Hispanic (64.4%)
Hispanic (24.4%)
Other race (13.4%)
Black (7.8%)
Two or more races (3.6%)
Vietnamese (0.9%)
American Indian (0.7%)
Asian Indian (0.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (21.3%), Irish (8.4%), Italian (6.1%), United States (4.3%), English (3.5%), Polish (2.9%).

Elevation: 350 feet

Land area: 17.7 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Allentown

High school or higher: 72.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.3%
Unemployed: 7.2%
Mean travel time to work: 21.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Allentown city

Never married: 31.8%
Now married: 45.0%
Separated: 3.5%
Widowed: 8.5%
Divorced: 11.3%

9.6% Foreign born (4.4% Latin America, 3.5% Asia, 1.4% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +968 (+0.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Allentown:

ALLENTOWN STATE HOSPITAL (1600 HANOVER STREET)
GOOD SHEPHERD REHABILITATION HOSPITAL (FIFTH AND ST JOHN STREETS)
GOOD SHEPHERD SPECIALTY HOSPITAL (1ST FLOOR, ANDERSON WING, CEDAR CREST BLVD & I-78)
LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL (1200 S CEDAR CREST BLVD P O BOX 689)
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL (421 CHEW ST)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Allentown:

LEHIGH VALLEY INTERNATIONAL (about 5 miles; ALLENTOWN, PA; Abbreviation: ABE)
READING REGIONAL/CARL A SPAATZ FIELD (about 37 miles; READING, PA; Abbreviation: RDG)
TRENTON MERCER (about 53 miles; TRENTON, NJ; Abbreviation: TTN)

Other public-use airports nearest to Allentown:

ALLENTOWN QUEEN CITY MUNI (about 3 miles; ALLENTOWN, PA; Abbreviation: 1N9)
SLATINGTON (about 14 miles; SLATINGTON, PA; Abbreviation: 69N)
QUAKERTOWN (about 14 miles; QUAKERTOWN, PA; Abbreviation: UKT)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Allentown:

MUHLENBERG COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 2,334; Location: 2400 Chew Street; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.muhlenberg.edu)
ALLENTOWN BUSINESS SCHOOL (Full-time enrollment: 1,311; Location: 1501 LEHIGH ST; Private, for-profit; Website: www.chooseabs.com)
CEDAR CREST COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 1,049; Location: 100 COLLEGE DR; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.cedarcrest.edu)
LINCOLN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (Full-time enrollment: 582; Location: 5151 TILGHMAN ST; Private, for-profit; Website: lincolntech.com)
HARRISON CAREER INSTITUTE-ALLENTOWN (Full-time enrollment: 148; Location: 2102 UNION BLVD; Private, for-profit)
INFORMATION COMPUTER SYSTEMS INSTITUTE (Full-time enrollment: 117; Location: 2201 HANGAR PL; Private, for-profit)
ALLENTOWN SCHOOL OF COSMETOLOGY (Full-time enrollment: 39; Location: 1921 UNION BLVD; Private, for-profit; Website: www.asc-ssc.com)
WELDER TRAINING AND TESTING INSTITUTE (Full-time enrollment: 17; Location: 729 E HIGHLAND ST; Private, for-profit)
OIL BURNER TECHNICIAN SCHOOL (Location: 215 E LEXINGTON ST; Private, not-for-profit)
JAN NAGY MODELING FINISHING SCHOOL (Location: 1244 HAMILTON ST; Private, for-profit)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Allentown:

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY (about 8 miles; BETHLEHEM, PA; Full-time enrollment: 5,725)
LEHIGH CARBON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 11 miles; SCHNECKSVILLE, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,145)
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 11 miles; BETHLEHEM, PA; Full-time enrollment: 3,128)
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE (about 19 miles; EASTON, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,218)
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (about 22 miles; KUTZTOWN, PA; Full-time enrollment: 7,101)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 34 miles; BLUE BELL, PA; Full-time enrollment: 5,097)
EASTERN COLLEGE (about 38 miles; ST DAVIDS, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,456)

Schools

Public high schools in Allentown:

WILLIAM ALLEN SHS (Students: 3,277; Grades: 09 – 12)
PARKLAND SHS (Students: 2,905; Grades: 09 – 12)
LOUIS E DIERUFF HS (Students: 1,819; Grades: 09 – 12)
SALISBURY SHS (Students: 470; Grades: 10 – 12)
ALLENTOWN SECURE TREATMENT UNT (Students: 13; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Allentown:

CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 931; Location: 301 NORTH 4TH STREET; Grades: 9 – 12)
LEHIGH VALLEY CHRISTIAN HS (Students: 171; Location: 1414 E CEDAR ST; Grades: 9 – 12)
ALLENTOWN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 60; Location: 3436 WINCHESTER ROAD; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Allentown:

SOUTH MOUNTAIN MS (Students: 1,294; Grades: 06 – 08)
TREXLER MS (Students: 1,059; Grades: 05 – 08)
FRANCIS D RAUB MS (Students: 986; Grades: 05 – 08)
SPRINGHOUSE MS (Students: 923; Grades: 06 – 08)
HARRISON-MORTON MS (Students: 902; Grades: 06 – 08)
CENTRAL EL SCH (Students: 737; Grades: 01 – 05)
SHERIDAN EL SCH (Students: 662; Grades: 01 – 05)
HIRAM W DODD EL SCH (Students: 653; Grades: KG – 05)
SALISBURY MS (Students: 644; Grades: 06 – 09)
UNION TERRACE EL SCH (Students: 609; Grades: KG – 05)

Biggest private primary/middle schools in Allentown:

ST THOMAS MORE SCHOOL (Students: 649; Location: 1040 FLEXER AVENUE; Grades: KG – 8)
CATHEDDRAL SAINT CATHERINE (Students: 535; Location: 210 NORTH 18TH STREET; Grades: PK – 8)
LEHIGH CHRISTIAN ACAD (Students: 279; Location: 619 SCHANTZ RD; Grades: PK – 8)
SWAIN SCHOOL (Students: 260; Location: 1100 S 24TH ST; Grades: PK – 8)
ST PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 242; Location: 219 W SUSQUEHANNA ST; Grades: KG – 8)
HOLY SPIRIT ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 193; Location: 510 RIDGE AVENUE; Grades: PK – 8)
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS SC (Students: 181; Location: 934 HANOVER AVE; Grades: KG – 8)
SACRED HEART (Students: 171; Location: 325 N 4TH STREET; Grades: PK – 8)
JEWISH DAY SCHOOL (Students: 143; Location: 2313 PENNSYLVANIA ST; Grades: PK – 8)
LIFESPAN DAY CARE CENTER (Students: 128; Location: 1503 NORTH CEDAR CREST BLVD; Grades: PK – KG)

Libraries

Libraries in Allentown:

ALLENTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $2,479,556; Location: 1210 HAMILTON ST; 219,225 books; 6,210 audio materials; 4,039 video materials; 609 serial subscriptions)
PARKLAND COMMUNITY LIBRARY (Operating income: $747,095; Location: 4422 WALBERT AVE; 62,067 books; 3,233 audio materials; 2,076 video materials; 162 serial subscriptions)