Allentown, Pennsylvania Population 2021

121,252

Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County Pennsylvania. It is also the county seat of Lehigh County. With a 2020 population of 121,252, it is the 3rd largest city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia and ) and the 236th largest city in the United States . Allentown is currently declining at a rate of -0.08% annually but its population has increased by 2.73% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 118,032 in 2010. Spanning over 18 miles, Allentown has a population density of 6,910 people per square mile.

The average household income in Allentown is $56,842 with a poverty rate of 25.70%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,004 per month, and the median house value is $131,300. The median age in Allentown is 31.6 years, 30.9 years for males, and 32.5 years for females.

In addition to being one of the largest cities, it is also the fastest-growing city in Pennsylvania. The city is continuing to add to its community with recent initiatives including full development of its downtown, which earned it the designation of being a “national success story” by the Urban Land Institute—one of only six cities to be named as such.

Allentown Diversity, Age, and Gender Statistics

Over 14% of Allentown’s residents are foreign-born. The largest ethnic group in the city is Puerto Rican. There are also large populations of Germans, Dominicans, Irish and Italian residents, to name a few.

Nearly 30% of the population is between the ages of 25 and 44, making up the largest age group in the city. Almost one-quarter of residents are under the age of 18, while over 15% are at least 65 years old.

There are more females than males residing here, with 91.8 men for every 100 women. About 18.5% of the population lives below the federal poverty line.

Population Growth in Allentown

Allentown has an unemployment rate of 10%, exceeding the national average. Despite this, however, the city continues to see its population grow. By the 20th century, the population had increased to over 35,000. In the years ahead, significant growth occurred before slowing down, yet the number of residents continued to rise at a steady rate. Current estimates show that the population is up 2% from the last census, indicating that while growth isn’t as rapid as it was during its earliest years, Allentown is only going to continue to get larger into the future.

The tract of land that the city of Allentown now sprawls over, was once a hunting ground for Native Americans. A group of tribal leaders agreed to sell the land to the sons of William Penn for a long list of goods that included numerous articles of clothing, looking glasses, pipes, and more.

The city was originally incorporated as Northampton Town in 1811. The town was officially renamed "Allentown" on April 16, 1838.

The Liberty Bell was hidden in Allentown during the American Revolutionary war.

Allentown Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Allentownwas:

White: 62.28%
Black or African American: 14.74%
Other race: 14.67%
Two or more races: 4.61%
Asian: 2.87%
Native American: 0.72%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.11%

The current population of Allentown, Pennsylvania is 121,252 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates. The US Census estimates the 2018 population at 121,252.The last official US Census in 2010 recorded the population at 118,032.

Allentown, Pennsylvania Population 2021

Population by Race

Race	Population	Percentage
White	75,302	62.28%
Black or African American	17,825	14.74%
Some Other Race	17,737	14.67%
Two or More Races	5,580	4.61%
Asian	3,465	2.87%
American Indian and Alaska Native	871	0.72%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	135	0.11%

Allentown Population by Race

Allentown Population Pyramid $2021

Allentown Population by Age

Allentown Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Allentown Household Types

Type	Owner	Renter
Female	23%	77%
Non Family	34.4%	65.6%
Male	35%	65%
All	40.8%	59.2%
Married	61.6%	38.4%

40.8%

Rate of Home Ownership

Allentown Households and Families

Type	Count	Average Size	Owned
All	42,245	2.73	40.8
Non Family	15,191	1.31	34.4
Married	13,924	3.57	61.6
Female	9,454	3.56	23
Male	3,676	3.3	35

3.35

Average Family Size

2.73

Average Household Size

Allentown Households by Type

Education Attained	Count	Percentage
Less Than 9th Grade	6,387	8.63%
9th to 12th Grade	9,141	12.35%
High School Graduate	28,131	38.01%
Some College	13,565	18.33%
Associates Degree	5,488	7.42%
Bachelors Degree	7,101	9.60%
Graduate Degree	4,189	5.66%

Allentown Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Allentown Educational Attainment by Race

Race	Total	High School	Bachelors
Hispanic	33,245	22,675	1,979
White	30,202	26,574	7,552
Other Race	10,208	6,522	573
Black	9,952	8,259	726
Asian	2,297	1,867	853
2+ Races	2,122	1,633	373
Native American	464	356	26
Islander	74	7

The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 87.99%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 37.14%.

Allentown Educational Attainment by Race

Name	Average	Male	Female
Overall	$30,220	$32,471	$26,109
Less Than 9th Grade	$22,700	$26,162	$16,810
High School Graduate	$26,701	$30,635	$22,108
Some College	$31,480	$36,847	$28,428
Bachelors Degree	$42,563	$49,142	$36,110
Graduate Degree	$55,962	$55,800	$56,250

$30,220

Average Earnings

$32,471

Average Male

$26,109

Average Female

Allentown Earnings by Educational Attainment

Allentown Language by Age

Allentown Language

52.85% of Allentown residents speak only English, while 47.15% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 40.10% of the population.

Allentown Language

Allentown Poverty by Race

Name	Total	In Poverty	Poverty Rate
Hispanic	62,591	20,578	32.88%
White	35,329	5,542	15.69%
Other	17,394	5,050	29.03%
Black	17,322	4,077	23.54%
Multiple	5,300	1,261	23.79%
Native	853	403	47.25%
Asian	3,313	352	10.62%
Islander	135	128	94.81%

25.70%

Overall Poverty Rate

23.61%

Male Poverty Rate

27.71%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Allentown

The race most likely to be in poverty in Allentown is Islander, with 94.81% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Allentown is Asian, with 10.62% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.61%. Among those working part-time, it was 28.66%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 38.08%.

Allentown Poverty

Name	Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade	31.04%
High School	21.18%
Some College	18.52%
Bachelors or Greater	7.47%

Allentown Poverty Rate by Education

Rate	Poverty
Female Unemployed	48.88%
Male Unemployed	32.03%
Female Employed	14.29%
Male Employed	9.93%

Allentown Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Allentown Income by Household Type

Name	Median	Mean
Households	$41,167	$56,842
Families	$44,755	$60,104
Married Families	$63,721	$80,414
Non Families	$29,997	$45,218

Income by Household Type

Allentown Marital Status

Marriage Rates

33.2%

Overall Marriage Rate

34.7%

Male Marriage Rate

31.8%

Female Marriage Rate

Allentown Married by Age and Sex

Allentown Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.

Allentown Marital Status by Race

Allentown Marital Status

3,720

Number of Veterans

3,471

Male Veterans

249

Female Veterans

War	Veterans
Vietnam	1,230
Second Gulf War	462
Korea	450
First Gulf War	358
World War II	259

Allentown Veterans by War

Age Group	Veterans
75+	1,157
65 to 74	889
55 to 64	790
35 to 54	532
18 to 34	352

Allentown Veterans by Age

Name	Veterans	% of Total
White	3,134	5.39%
Hispanic	613	1.50%
Black	370	2.97%
2+ Races	100	3.48%
Other Race	96	0.80%
Asian	13	0.47%
Native American	7	1.19%

Allentown Veterans by Race

Allentown Veterans by Education

14.16%

Veteran Poverty Rate

33.80%

Veteran Disability Rate

Allentown Veterans by Education

63.1%

Labor Force Participation

56.8%

Employment Rate

10%

Unemployment Rate

Allentown Employment by Age

Allentown Employment by Race

Allentown Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

43.05%

Born in Allentown

80.78%

Native Born

19.22%

Foreign Born

9.70%

Non Citizen

9.52%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

80.78% of Allentown residents were born in the United States, with 43.05% having been born in Pennsylvania. 9.70% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Allentown Place of Birth

Note: 2020 and 2021 data is projected

Year	Population	Growth	Annual Growth Rate
2021	121,252	-95	-0.08%
2020	121,347	-95	-0.08%
2019	121,442	-95	-0.08%
2018	121,537	490	0.40%
2017	121,047	627	0.52%
2016	120,420	349	0.29%
2015	120,071	904	0.76%
2014	119,167	341	0.29%
2013	118,826	-52	-0.04%
2012	118,878	96	0.08%
2011	118,782	669	0.57%
2010	118,113	11,481	1.03%
2000	106,632	1,542	0.15%
1990	105,090	1,332	0.13%
1980	103,758	-6,113	-0.57%
1970	109,871	1,524	0.14%
1960	108,347	1,591	0.15%
1950	106,756	9,852	0.97%
1940	96,904	4,341	0.46%
1930	92,563	19,061	2.33%
1920	73,502	21,589	3.54%
1910	51,913	16,497	3.90%
1900	35,416	10,188	3.45%
1890	25,228	7,165	3.40%
1880	18,063	4,179	2.67%
1870	13,884	5,859	5.63%
1860	8,025	4,246	7.82%
1850	3,779	1,279	4.22%
1840	2,500	1,000	5.24%
1830	1,500		0.00%

Allentown, Pennsylvania Population 2021

Allentown Diversity, Age, and Gender Statistics

Population Growth in Allentown

Allentown Demographics

Allentown, Pennsylvania Population 2021

Population by Race

Allentown Population by Race

Allentown Population Pyramid $2021

Allentown Median Age

Allentown Adults

Allentown Age Dependency

Allentown Sex Ratio

Allentown Population by Age

Allentown Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Allentown Household Types

Allentown Households and Families

Allentown Households by Type

Allentown Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Allentown Educational Attainment by Race

Allentown Educational Attainment by Race

Allentown Earnings by Educational Attainment

Allentown Language by Age

Allentown Language

Allentown Language

Allentown Poverty by Race

Poverty in Allentown

Allentown Poverty

Allentown Poverty Rate by Education

Allentown Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Allentown Income by Household Type

Income by Household Type

Allentown Marital Status

Marriage Rates

Allentown Married by Age and Sex

Allentown Marriage

Allentown Marital Status by Race

Allentown Marital Status

Allentown Veterans by War

Allentown Veterans by Age

Allentown Veterans by Race

Allentown Veterans by Education

Allentown Veterans by Education

Allentown Employment by Age

Allentown Employment by Race

Allentown Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Place of Birth

Allentown Place of Birth

Allentown Population by Year