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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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Population
119,624

Real Estate

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

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

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

126 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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Allentown offers all of the amenities you want from a city without having to live in an extremely large city such as Philadelphia or New York City. Located in the Lehigh Valley, this city has a large population but in a small area. Allentown isn't only center city, it has many nice suburban areas surrounding it. This is a place for people of all ages to live in and enjoy!
I have lived in Allentown, PA for about 17 years now. My family moved here when I was about 1 years old, and have been here ever since. I actually live in Salisbury Township, however it is considered Allentown for the postal address and when talking about the area. I enjoy this area I live in because it is diverse and there is always something to do whether it is going out to eat, or enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. The community is a great place to live; everyone is nice and cares for each other, and is a good area to have a family. If I were to change anything about where I live I would like for it to be more rural and not as modernized with suburban neighborhoods or buildings. I enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of spacious land, so I would want Allentown to have more area like that. Now, there are areas not far from Allentown that display those qualities, however I would love if it were closer to me.