Home › PA › Allentown, PA Cost of living in Allentown, PA Livability score 63 · cost-of-living index 98.9 (US = 100)
How Allentown compares Where Allentown falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 99 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 99 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $364k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $364k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $208 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $208 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.85% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.85% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 390 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 390 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22° Map of Allentown Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 98.9 metro-area #134 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.2 metro-area #137 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.63 metro-area #134 of 200 Median household income $78,597 metro-area #65 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $42,538 metro-area #68 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 41.4 years metro-area #169 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 32.7% metro-area #108 of 200 Foreign-born residents 10.4% metro-area #69 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 69.5% metro-area #51 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.48% metro-area #127 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.6% metro-area #103 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $363,989 metro-area #116 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.6× metro-area #90 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.0% metro-area #47 of 200 Price per square foot $208 metro-area #125 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,857 metro-area #143 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,938 Median days on market 8 metro-area #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.6% state #115 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.34% state #32 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.07% Capital gains tax 3.07% state #53 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.85% metro-area #181 of 200 Median property tax paid $4,769 metro-area #171 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 78.1 years metro-area #62 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,000 state #129 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 6.5% metro-area #49 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 81 metro-area #80 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $65 state #29 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #162 of 200 Commute by driving alone 76.0% metro-area #113 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 37.2% metro-area #146 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.5¢/kWh state #147 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.55/gal state #150 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $82 state #167 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $65 state #14 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,200 state #8 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 88.2 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #84 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 41 metro-area #50 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 12 metro-area #54 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F -778 metro-area #1 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200 Annual precipitation 44.1" metro-area #116 of 200 Annual snowfall 30.0" metro-area #146 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 55% metro-area #150 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 390 state #91 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,400 state #11 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Allentown Major public and private employers in the Allentown, PA area.
Employer Sector Jobs Lehigh Valley Health Network Healthcare Search → Air Products Manufacturing Careers → Lehigh University Education Search → Allentown School District Education Search → Lehigh County Government Government Search → Dorney Park hospitality Search →
Salaries by occupation in Allentown Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $169,560 Financial Managers $139,290 Pharmacists $136,130 Human Resources Managers $132,300 Marketing Managers $129,690 Lawyers $124,130 Physician Assistants $123,500 Software Developers $104,480 Construction Managers $101,920 Physical Therapists $101,560 Mechanical Engineers $101,430 General & Operations Managers $100,780 Data Scientists $98,780 Civil Engineers $90,810 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $85,840 Registered Nurses $82,160 Elementary School Teachers $81,560 Dental Hygienists $79,020 Web Developers $77,230 Accountants & Auditors $76,210 Electricians $70,540 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $62,520 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,140 Carpenters $56,880 Graphic Designers $54,960 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $50,430 Real Estate Sales Agents $44,920 Medical Assistants $39,530
Cities in the Allentown area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
