How many renters in Allentown, PA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Allentown, PA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

60.9% (±3.8 points) of renting households in Allentown, PA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

50.0% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 35.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 60.9% (±3.8 points)
Paying 35% or more: 50.0% (±3.3 points)
Median share of income: 35.0% (±1.9 points)

Rent as a share of income in Allentown

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Allentown	Lehigh County	Pennsylvania	United States
Less than 15%	9.5% (±1.8 points)	10.5%	14.5%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	9.8% (±2.1 points)	11.4%	13.0%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	8.6% (±1.5 points)	10.9%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.1% (±2.1 points)	12.4%	11.5%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.9% (±1.8 points)	10.0%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	50.0% (±3.3 points)	44.9%	39.5%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Allentown against Lehigh County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Allentown	Lehigh County	Pennsylvania	United States
Paying 30% or more	60.9% (±3.8 points)	54.9% (±2.5 points)	48.2% (±0.4 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	50.0% (±3.3 points)	44.9% (±2.2 points)	39.5% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	35.0% (±1.9 points)	32.5% (±1.0 points)	29.2% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,867 (±$2,144)	$48,020 (±$2,208)	$47,506 (±$425)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,317 (±$39)	$1,383 (±$27)	$1,209 (±$5)	$1,413

In Allentown, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Lehigh County (54.9%).

It is also higher than in Pennsylvania (48.2%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Lehigh County, Allentown ranks 4 of 24 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 355 of 2,530.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Allentown

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Allentown
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Allentown	—	60.9% (±3.8 points)	—
Dorneyville	2.5 mi	24.3% (±39.4 points)	Not measurably different
Fullerton	2.6 mi	50.7% (±10.6 points)	Not measurably different
Salisbury Township (Lehigh County)	2.6 mi	66.6% (±17.0 points)	Not measurably different
Cetronia	3.5 mi	42.1% (±42.6 points)	Not measurably different
South Whitehall Township	3.9 mi	44.9% (±8.8 points)	Lower
Emmaus	4.2 mi	55.6% (±12.1 points)	Not measurably different
Catasauqua	4.3 mi	57.2% (±16.2 points)	Not measurably different
Fountain Hill	4.4 mi	50.2% (±18.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: South Whitehall Township, PA (44.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Lehigh County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Lower Milford Township	74.0% (±44.6 points)
2	Salisbury Township (Lehigh County)	66.6% (±17.0 points)
3	Coopersburg	63.6% (±16.1 points)
4	Allentown	60.9% (±3.8 points)
5	Catasauqua	57.2% (±16.2 points)
6	Alburtis	56.0% (±26.9 points)
7	Emmaus	55.6% (±12.1 points)
8	Coplay	55.0% (±22.4 points)
9	Hanover Township (Lehigh County)	54.9% (±13.0 points)
10	Macungie	52.8% (±16.9 points)

Showing 10 of 24 places in Lehigh County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Allentown

Are renters in Allentown rent-burdened?

60.9% of renting households in Allentown pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Allentown spend on rent?

The median renting household in Allentown, PA spends 35.0% (±1.9 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Allentown city, Pennsylvania (place:02000, in state:42).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.