Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 866,764 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area

What is the median household income in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area?: The median household income in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area is $82,602 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area is 7.1% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area?: $277,800 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area is $1,309 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 32.7% of adults in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

866,764

Median Income

$82,602

Median Home Value

$277,800

Poverty Rate

7.1%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.4%

Median Age

41.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$14,950 (+22.1%) Home Value: +$64,000 (+29.9%) Poverty Rate: -0.2 pp (-2.7%) Bachelor's+: +3.2 pp (+10.8%) Unemployment: -0.1 pp (-1.8%)

Demographics

Total Population 866,764

Median Age 41.0

Female 50.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 19.1% White (non-Hisp.) 69.2% Black 6.0% Asian 3.1% Two or More 10.1% Other 6.7%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

1.2%

Chinese

0.7%

Filipino

0.3%

Vietnamese

0.2%

Korean

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Puerto Rican

9.1%

Mexican

1.3%

Cuban

0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $82,602 ±$1,256

Per Capita Income $110,568

Median Family Income $100,937

Poverty Rate 7.1%

Child Poverty Rate 12.3%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 12.5%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 29.5%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

3.4%

$10–15k

2.9%

$15–25k

6.1%

$25–35k

6.6%

$35–50k

10.8%

$50–75k

16.0%

$75–100k

13.0%

$100–150k

19.5%

$150–200k

10.3%

$200k+

11.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 360,133

Owner-Occupied 69.5%

Renter-Occupied 30.5%

Vacancy Rate 6.4%

Median Home Value $277,800

Median Gross Rent $1,309

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 18.4%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 41.8%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

3.6%

$50–100k

3.4%

$100–200k

7.4%

$200–300k

29.4%

$300–500k

31.9%

$500k–$1M

10.8%

$1M+

1.0%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

7.4%

$500–1k

18.1%

$1–1.5k

38.5%

$1.5–2k

23.7%

$2–2.5k

9.5%

$2.5–3.5k

1.4%

$3.5k+

1.4%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

7.1%

1 vehicle

32.0%

2 vehicles

38.1%

22.8%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

57.1%

Single-fam. att.

20.3%

2–4 units

4.2%

5–19 units

3.7%

20+ units

5.2%

Mobile home

2.1%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

25.4%

1940–1969

5.3%

1970–1999

12.0%

2000–2009

11.1%

2010+

4.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 91.6%

Bachelor's or Higher 32.7%

Graduate Degree 12.2%

Some College / Associate 16.2%

Less Than High School 3.0%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 63.9%

Unemployment Rate 5.4%

Work from Home 11.9%

Self-Employed 4.4%

Government Workers 10.2%

Private For-Profit 85.4%

Industry

Edu/Health

26.3%

Manufacturing

13.1%

Retail

11.1%

Prof. Services

10.3%

Transportation

8.0%

Arts/Entmt.

7.5%

Construction

6.0%

Finance

5.0%

Wholesale

3.1%

Public Admin

2.9%

Information

1.8%

Agriculture

0.6%

Occupation

Management

39.6%

Sales

19.7%

Production

16.7%

Food Prep

16.1%

Construction

7.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 27.7 min

Drove Alone 76.0%

Carpool 7.1%

Public Transit 1.2%

Work from Home 11.9%

Walked 2.1%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 336,977

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 49.0%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 17.5%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.2%

5–9

5.4%

10–14

6.3%

15–19

6.7%

20–24

6.3%

25–34

12.2%

35–44

12.4%

45–54

12.6%

55–64

7.0%

65–74

7.1%

75–84

10.9%

85+

5.4%

Under 18: 20.8% Working age (18–64): 79.2% 65 and over: 18.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 10.4%

Naturalized Citizen 58.3%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 8.0%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

51.4%

Asia

25.9%

Europe

14.5%

Africa

6.6%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 6.2%

With a Disability 12.9%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 94.8%

Uninsured 5.2%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 89.1%

Has a Computer 93.7%

Same House 1 Year Ago 89.6%

Moved from Abroad 0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023