B-

Emmaus, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 67/100

Population: 17,341 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Emmaus, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 17,341 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (67/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $93,694, median home value of $315,700, median rent of $1,360 per month, and 39.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,634 per month (studio $1,130, 1BR $1,341, 3BR $2,087, 4BR $2,195).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Emmaus, PA include income, rent. Unemployment currently reads 2.6% and poverty 6.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B+
$93,694
Median household income
Education B
39.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C-
3.4x
Home value $315,700 vs income
Commute C-
26 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,634/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$93,694
▲ 51% vs national
Per Capita Income
$48,795
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Poverty Rate
6.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$315,700
▲ 15% vs national
Median Rent
$1,360/mo
Owner Occupied
71.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,634/mo
▲ 36% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,130
1BR
$1,341
2BR
$1,634
3BR
$2,087
4BR
$2,195

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
39.8%
▲ 10 ppt vs national
High School+
69.2%
Median Age
41.8
Avg. Commute
26 min
▼ 0 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Emmaus, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 17,341. This area performs well in income and rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Emmaus ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Emmaus, PA affordable?
Emmaus, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $93,694. Median home value is $315,700.
What is the cost of living in Emmaus?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,360/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,634/mo. Median home value $315,700.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →