Allentown Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Allentown, PA (the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area) was $1,109 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Allentown was $1,093 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Allentown median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Allentown rental vacancy rates, Allentown rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Allentown.
Real Gross Rent in Allentown Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
| Allentown, PA Median Gross Rent | $1,109 | +2.50% | +6.43% |
Allentown, PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,109, real median gross rent in Allentown was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,093, real average gross rent in Allentown was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Allentown: Allentown PA Median, Allentown PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Allentown
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Allentown, PA Median |
Allentown, PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $1,109 | $1,093 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $1,082 | $1,059 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $1,019 | $1,024 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $1,042 | $1,053 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $1,056 | $1,035 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $998 | $1,001 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $967 | $955 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $962 | $970 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $950 | $917 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $948 | $942 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $980 | $987 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $915 | $896 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $898 | $861 |
Allentown Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Allentown Pennsylvania was 4.94% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Allentown Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Allentown, PA | 4.94% | +0.36% | +0.60% |
Trends in Allentown, PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Allentown peaked in 2011 at 8.53%. Since then it has fallen by 3.59% to 4.94%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 4.34%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.60%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Allentown PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Allentown
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Allentown, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.94% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 4.58% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 5.23% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 4.34% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 4.86% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 6.98% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 4.56% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 6.92% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 8.53% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 7.43% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 6.66% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 4.95% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 4.89% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Allentown, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Allentown, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.80% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Allentown Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
| Allentown, PA | 18.80% | -0.55% | -0.15% |
Trends in Allentown, PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Allentown household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.68%. Since then it has fallen by 0.88% to 18.80%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Allentown PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Allentown Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Allentown, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 18.80% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 19.35% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 18.54% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.95% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 19.68% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 18.80% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 19.48% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 19.45% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 19.49% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 18.29% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 18.17% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 16.98% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 16.67% |
Renter Fraction in Allentown Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Allentown in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Allentown as a fraction of total Allentown households. In 2019 32.73% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Allentown Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Allentown, PA | 32.73% | +1.94% | +0.77% |
Trends in the Allentown, PA Renter Fraction
At 32.73%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Allentown was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Allentown PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Allentown Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Allentown, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 32.73% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 30.79% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 31.02% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 31.96% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 30.97% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 30.14% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 30.54% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 30.30% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 28.32% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 28.10% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 27.40% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 27.76% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 26.48% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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