Allentown, PA · standard
ZIP Code 18102
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 49,779
- 6,414/sq mi High-density area
- $43,085
- Median income Below-median income area
- $163,400
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 11.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Allentown pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 8th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 31st pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 6,414
- people per sq mi
- 32%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18102 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 18102 (Allentown, PA) rose +7.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 354.1 in 2023 to 379.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 18102 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, with 49,779 residents across 7.8 square miles, a density of 6,414 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 18102 reports a modest median household income of $43,085 (45% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $19,885. Economic pressure is pronounced: 29.2% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 10.9%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $163,400 (28% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $1,248; owner occupancy is 32.1%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.9, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lehigh County, so 18102 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 18102
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Allentown, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18102.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
108 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
91 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
90 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
49 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 42
Professional, scientific, and technical services
42 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 18102, Allentown, 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
49,779
Population
7.8
Area (sq mi)
6,414
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 18102?
31.9
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
26.2%
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?
$43,085
Median Household Income
-45% vs state ZIP avg
$19,885
Per Capita Income
29.2%
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Unemployment Rate
24.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18102 ranks nationally
Allentown, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$43,085 8th percentile higher than 8% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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
18,849housing units
18,849
Total Housing Units
17,289
Occupied Units
1,560
Vacant Units
2.92
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$163,400
Median Home Value
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$1,248
Median Rent
1938
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
+7.3%
YoY Change (2024)
380
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+280%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 18102 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +280% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +11.4% | 209 |
| 2021 | +20.4% | 252 |
| 2022 | +18.7% | 299 |
| 2023 | +18.3% | 354 |
| 2024 | +7.3% | 380 |
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 588 business establishments in ZIP 18102, employing approximately 6,588 people with a combined annual payroll of $321,936,000.
588
Businesses
6,588
Employees
$321.9M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 108 | 18.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 91 | 15.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 90 | 15.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 49 | 8.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 42 | 7.1% |
| Construction | 37 | 6.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 6.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 4.6% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 4.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 22 | 3.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 3.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 16 | 2.7% |
| Educational services | 13 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.0% |
| Information | 5 | 0.8% |
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 18102 vs 18101 →
ZIP 18102 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
- 18104
Allentown (18104)
43,236 residents
- 18018
Bethlehem (18018)
32,413 residents
- 18052
Whitehall (18052)
26,902 residents
- 18067 17,852
Northampton (18067)
17,852 residents
- 18109 16,932
Allentown (18109)
16,932 residents
- 18032 9,285
Catasauqua (18032)
9,285 residents
- 18101 3,897
Allentown (18101)
3,897 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18102 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18102 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18104
Allentown (18104)
$94,601 median income
- 18067
Northampton (18067)
$93,652 median income
- 18032
Catasauqua (18032)
$81,098 median income
- 18052
Whitehall (18052)
$75,665 median income
- 18018
Bethlehem (18018)
$75,417 median income
- 18103
Allentown (18103)
$72,895 median income
- 18109
Allentown (18109)
$58,031 median income
- 18101
Allentown (18101)
$44,773 median income
- 18102
Allentown (18102)
$43,085 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 18102 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18101 | Allentown, PA | 3,897 | 0.5 mi |
| 18105 | Allentown, PA | 12 | 1.0 mi |
| 18103 | Allentown, PA | 45,336 | 2.6 mi |
| 18032 | Catasauqua, PA | 9,285 | 3.4 mi |
| 18109 | Allentown, PA | 16,932 | 2.7 mi |
| 18104 | Allentown, PA | 43,236 | 3.7 mi |
| 18052 | Whitehall, PA | 26,902 | 3.7 mi |
| 18018 | Bethlehem, PA | 32,413 | 4.5 mi |
| 18016 | Bethlehem, PA | 0 | 4.7 mi |
| 18067 | Northampton, PA | 17,852 | 7.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18102, 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 (49,779 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 18102 in?
ZIP code 18102 (Allentown) 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 18102?
ZIP code 18102 in Allentown, PA has a population of 49,779 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18102?
The median household income in ZIP 18102 is $43,085, which is 44% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18102?
The median home value in ZIP 18102 is $163,400, which is 41% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18102?
The largest racial group in ZIP 18102 is Two or More Ethnicities at 32.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 71.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18102?
ZIP code 18102 has 588 business establishments employing approximately 6,588 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18102?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18102 are: Retail trade (108), Health care and social assistance (91), Other services (except public administration) (90). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18102?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18102 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 280%. 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 18102?
In ZIP code 18102, 53.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.6% 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 18102?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18102 is 24.9 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 18102?
In ZIP code 18102, approximately 32.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 67.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18102?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18102 is 29.2% 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 18102's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18102 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Allentown, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.