Population 39,972 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 18017
Household size in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.01 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 18017 run small, averaging 2.43 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.49, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.7 | 40.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.9 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.9 | 42.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.6 | 42.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.6, ZIP 18017 is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.7, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 11.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.7 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in ZIP 18017 as they are nationally: 10.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 18017
Renters in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 26.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 29.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.5% | 31.2% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.1% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +3.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in ZIP 18017 rent their homes (33.1%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (46.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the north. The renter share has risen 5.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 8.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.6% of homes in ZIP 18017 are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.8 points, as it has nationally. ZIP 18017 has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Pennsylvania ZIP codes.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1965 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1967 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1967 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1969 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in ZIP 18017 run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. Even so, homes here are newer than in the Allentown area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1969. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,087 | $928 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,138 | $1,020 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,319 | $1,170 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,921 | $1,504 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$834 | +$576 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in ZIP 18017 pays $1,921 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $834 a month since 2006–10, up 77%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 18017
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3% | 26.0% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 26.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.4% | 29.5% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in ZIP 18017 (39.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 86.4% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 88.0% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.3% | 89.7% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 91.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in ZIP 18017 is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 18017
| Period | ZIP 18017 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.4% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 18017 is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 18017 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 18017 | 2.43 | 46.6 | 10.7% | 33.1% | 4.6% | 1975 | $1,921 | 39.8% | 93.4% | 5.3% |
| ZIP 18018 | 2.28 | 40.0 | 9.8% | 47.0% | 4.2% | 1951 | $1,464 | 38.1% | 91.8% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 18020 | 2.56 | 43.7 | 6.5% | 17.7% | 2.9% | 1986 | $1,573 | 43.7% | 95.5% | 3.8% |
| ZIP 18015 | 2.60 | 34.7 | 12.7% | 49.9% | 8.1% | 1957 | $1,449 | 31.4% | 85.7% | 8.2% |
| ZIP 18109 | 2.67 | 36.9 | 16.9% | 47.4% | 7.6% | 1967 | $1,419 | 16.3% | 81.3% | 8.2% |
| ZIP 18032 | 2.40 | 39.7 | 11.5% | 25.1% | 2.6% | 1947 | $1,065 | 28.2% | 93.6% | 5.9% |
| ZIP 18055 | 2.56 | 46.6 | 9.0% | 21.2% | 6.2% | 1965 | $1,485 | 36.6% | 94.4% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 18045 | 2.53 | 45.7 | 8.9% | 17.6% | 4.1% | 1982 | $1,880 | 45.1% | 96.0% | 3.7% |
| ZIP 18101 | 2.17 | 29.5 | 16.1% | 90.4% | 6.8% | 1978 | $1,447 | 31.4% | 87.3% | 7.2% |
| ZIP 18102 | 3.02 | 32.2 | 27.2% | 67.9% | 9.6% | 1942 | $1,305 | 12.8% | 75.8% | 11.3% |
| ZIP 18052 | 2.53 | 41.2 | 10.9% | 37.4% | 4.7% | 1968 | $1,442 | 26.0% | 92.0% | 7.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 78412, TX · 55110, MN · 29412, SC · 75069, TX · 75206, TX · 29150, SC · 28451, NC · 28054, NC · 27704, NC · 77024, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 18017. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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