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City

Allentown

#172 in Best Cities for Millennials in America
  • C+
    Overall Grade
  • City in Pennsylvania
  • 149 reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    C-
  2. Crime & Safety
    C
  3. Housing
    C-
  4. Nightlife
    A-
  5. Good for Families
    C
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    C
  8. Weather
    C+
  9. Cost of Living
    C+
  10. Health & Fitness
    B-
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A-
  12. Commute
    A-
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About Allentown...
Population
119,624

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$126,100
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$907
National
$949
Area Feel
Urban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    55%
  • Own
    45%
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Allentown Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    177
    283
  • Murder
    8
    6
  • Rape
    48
    41
  • Robbery
    227
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    554
    500
  • Theft
    1,979
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    234
    284
Home Security Options for Allentown
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$37,256
National
$55,322
Children
22%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    5%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    10%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    26%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    37%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    22%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

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Allentown Reviews

149 reviews
All Categories
Allentown gets a bad wrap. Some of it is deserved, but overall it's a decent city. The centrality of the city is what I like the most. About 2 hrs from NYC, 1.5 hrs from Philadelphia, 2 hrs from beaches, 1 hr from the Poconos, this place is a great hub for weekend getaways! Allentown is a relatively safe place, there are the typical hooligans, but not much violence here. The city has done a great job transforming downtown by building up and working with the APD to make it a safer place That being said, Allentown deals with drug issues as well as the notoriously bad public schools. Many parents specifically avoid Allentown school district schools as they are not taken care of and the children are not given the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. The cost of living is on the rise, but cheaper than any of the urban areas nearby. The public transportation is good. While I have a young family the school system worries me, all other aspects of Allentown are acceptable.
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I have lived in Allentown all my life and even though it's not a great city, it is where I was born. The majority of Allentown residents aren’t the friendliest and are really cliquey. The best place to live in Allentown is Wescosville. There are newer shopping centers and restaurants popping out of sight. Even though Allentown is a part of the Lehigh Valley, there are a majority of things that could be better. Allentown crime rates has increased over the years and it’s not safe to walk the streets at night. Shooting and stabbing is happening in broad daylight. Gang related citizens exploit the spirit of Allentown. Nice restaurants and bars do not compare to feeling safe in your own city.
It's a nice town. There's a lot of nice restaurants downtown and plenty of cheap nearby parking. The bus network which services the region is very convenient and economical, especially in contrast to other local networks. The region would hugely benefit from a light rail system. In addition, a heavy/commuter rail system connecting the area to nearby New York City and Philadelphia would likely be a smart investment. Highway system could also use a capacity and potentially a connectivity inprovent.