C

Kutztown, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 56/100

Population: 16,432 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Kutztown, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 16,432 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (56/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $71,554, median home value of $292,500, median rent of $1,186 per month, and 33.7% 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 $1,575 per month (studio $1,086, 1BR $1,237, 3BR $1,937, 4BR $2,085).

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. Pressure points are housing. Unemployment currently reads 5.9% and poverty 15.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$71,554
Median household income
Education C
33.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.1x
Home value $292,500 vs income
Commute B-
21 min
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,575/mo
2BR fair market rent (26% 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
$71,554
▲ 15% vs national
Per Capita Income
$29,401
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Poverty Rate
15.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$292,500
▲ 6% vs national
Median Rent
$1,186/mo
Owner Occupied
65.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,575/mo
▲ 31% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,086
1BR
$1,237
2BR
$1,575
3BR
$1,937
4BR
$2,085

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
33.7%
▲ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
66.8%
Median Age
24.6
Avg. Commute
21 min
▼ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Kutztown, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 16,432. Challenges include housing. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Kutztown ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Kutztown, PA affordable?
Kutztown, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $71,554. Median home value is $292,500.
What is the cost of living in Kutztown?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,186/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,575/mo. Median home value $292,500.
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 →