Emmaus, PA · standard
ZIP Code 18049
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 17,341
- 447/sq mi High-density area
- $93,694
- Median income Above-median income area
- $315,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 39.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Emmaus pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 24%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 31%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 447
- people per sq mi
- 72%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18049 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 18049 (Emmaus, PA) rose +6.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 242.2 in 2023 to 257.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 18049 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Emmaus, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, home to 17,341 residents across 38.8 square miles, a density of 447 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 18049 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $93,694 (20% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $48,795. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.3% and unemployment is 2.6%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $315,700 (39% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while 71.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,360.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 39.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lehigh County, so 18049 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 18049
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Emmaus, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18049.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
64 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
61 establishments
- Construction
Construction
53 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
42 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
41 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 18049, Emmaus, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
17,341
Population
38.8
Area (sq mi)
447
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 18049?
41.8
Median Age
50.8%
Male
49.2%
Female
5.3%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$93,694
Median Household Income
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$48,795
Per Capita Income
6.3%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
26.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18049 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Emmaus, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$93,694 Top 20% higher than 80% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
7,851housing units
7,851
Total Housing Units
7,702
Occupied Units
149
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$315,700
Median Home Value
+39% vs state ZIP avg
$1,360
Median Rent
1961
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.2%
YoY Change (2024)
257
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+157%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 18049 have increased 6.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.1% | 173 |
| 2021 | +10.3% | 191 |
| 2022 | +12.3% | 215 |
| 2023 | +12.8% | 242 |
| 2024 | +6.2% | 257 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 430 business establishments in ZIP 18049, employing approximately 4,816 people with a combined annual payroll of $231,575,000.
430
Businesses
4,816
Employees
$231.6M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 64 | 14.9% |
| Retail trade | 61 | 14.2% |
| Construction | 53 | 12.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 42 | 9.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 41 | 9.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 40 | 9.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 18 | 4.2% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 3.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 3.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 2.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 2.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 1.6% |
| Information | 7 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 18049 vs 18068 →
ZIP 18049 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18102
Allentown (18102)
49,779 residents
- 18103
Allentown (18103)
45,336 residents
- 18062
Macungie (18062)
24,351 residents
- 18049 17,341
Emmaus (18049)
17,341 residents
- 18034 8,256
Center Valley (18034)
8,256 residents
- 18041 5,424
East Greenville (18041)
5,424 residents
- 18101 3,897
Allentown (18101)
3,897 residents
- 18092 3,223
Zionsville (18092)
3,223 residents
- 18046 64
East Texas (18046)
64 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18049 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18049 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18034
Center Valley (18034)
$153,200 median income
- 18092
Zionsville (18092)
$112,721 median income
- 18062
Macungie (18062)
$110,675 median income
- 18041
East Greenville (18041)
$98,615 median income
- 18049
Emmaus (18049)
$93,694 median income
- 18103
Allentown (18103)
$72,895 median income
- 18101 $44,773
Allentown (18101)
$44,773 median income
- 18102 $43,085
Allentown (18102)
$43,085 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 18049 ranks #5 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18068 | Old Zionsville, PA | 42 | 2.5 mi |
| 18092 | Zionsville, PA | 3,223 | 3.3 mi |
| 18103 | Allentown, PA | 45,336 | 3.8 mi |
| 18046 | East Texas, PA | 64 | 3.8 mi |
| 18105 | Allentown, PA | 12 | 5.8 mi |
| 18062 | Macungie, PA | 24,351 | 4.4 mi |
| 18034 | Center Valley, PA | 8,256 | 4.8 mi |
| 18041 | East Greenville, PA | 5,424 | 6.8 mi |
| 18102 | Allentown, PA | 49,779 | 6.4 mi |
| 18101 | Allentown, PA | 3,897 | 6.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18049, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (17,341 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lehigh County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 18049 in?
ZIP code 18049 (Emmaus) is located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Lehigh County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lehigh-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 18049?
ZIP code 18049 in Emmaus, PA has a population of 17,341 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18049?
The median household income in ZIP 18049 is $93,694, which is 23% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18049?
The median home value in ZIP 18049 is $315,700, which is 13% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18049?
The largest racial group in ZIP 18049 is White at 87.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18049?
ZIP code 18049 has 430 business establishments employing approximately 4,816 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18049?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18049 are: Other services (except public administration) (64), Retail trade (61), Construction (53). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18049?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18049 increased by 6.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 18049?
In ZIP code 18049, 69.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 39.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 18049?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18049 is 26.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 18049?
In ZIP code 18049, approximately 71.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18049?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18049 is 6.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 18049's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18049 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Emmaus, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.