Population 23,002 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of ZIP 18020: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in ZIP 18020
Household size in ZIP 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.76 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | +0.01 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 18020 run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.68, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.2 | 40.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 42.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 42.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
ZIP 18020 skews older than the country: its median age is 43.7, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has edged down from 44.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the northwest.
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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 11.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 11.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.7 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in ZIP 18020: 6.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 18020
Renters in ZIP 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 26.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 29.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 31.2% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +3.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 18020 is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 39.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 6.7 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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 8.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in ZIP 18020: just 2.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 628 Pennsylvania ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 30 have a lower vacancy rate.
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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1965 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1967 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1967 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1969 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in ZIP 18020 is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the south has the oldest housing. Of the 628 Pennsylvania ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 56 have newer homes.
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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,116 | $928 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,105 | $1,020 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,260 | $1,170 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,573 | $1,504 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$458 | +$576 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 18020 runs $1,573 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $458 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the north.
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 18020
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.8% | 26.0% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.7% | 26.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.5% | 29.5% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.7% | 33.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in ZIP 18020 than nationally: 43.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.9 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the south.
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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 86.4% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 88.0% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 89.7% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 91.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 18020: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 18020
| Period | ZIP 18020 | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 9.4% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 18020 runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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 18020 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 18020 | 2.56 | 43.7 | 6.5% | 17.7% | 2.9% | 1986 | $1,573 | 43.7% | 95.5% | 3.8% |
| ZIP 18017 | 2.43 | 46.6 | 10.7% | 33.1% | 4.6% | 1975 | $1,921 | 39.8% | 93.4% | 5.3% |
| ZIP 18045 | 2.53 | 45.7 | 8.9% | 17.6% | 4.1% | 1982 | $1,880 | 45.1% | 96.0% | 3.7% |
| ZIP 18018 | 2.28 | 40.0 | 9.8% | 47.0% | 4.2% | 1951 | $1,464 | 38.1% | 91.8% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 18015 | 2.60 | 34.7 | 12.7% | 49.9% | 8.1% | 1957 | $1,449 | 31.4% | 85.7% | 8.2% |
| ZIP 18042 | 2.51 | 36.5 | 17.7% | 45.3% | 11.2% | 1948 | $1,450 | 30.0% | 89.0% | 5.3% |
| ZIP 18055 | 2.56 | 46.6 | 9.0% | 21.2% | 6.2% | 1965 | $1,485 | 36.6% | 94.4% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 18064 | 2.67 | 45.5 | 9.6% | 24.7% | 3.6% | 1981 | $1,632 | 38.7% | 94.3% | 2.4% |
| ZIP 18085 | 3.24 | 38.5 | 11.3% | 24.1% | 3.0% | 1968 | $1,647 | 37.1% | 98.3% | 5.6% |
| ZIP 18109 | 2.67 | 36.9 | 16.9% | 47.4% | 7.6% | 1967 | $1,419 | 16.3% | 81.3% | 8.2% |
| ZIP 18040 | 2.61 | 44.6 | 7.5% | 9.8% | 3.3% | 1994 | $1,458 | 41.4% | 92.5% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 02445, MA · 03867, NH · 76111, TX · 38133, TN · 02809, RI · 44484, OH · 44514, OH · 45331, OH · 47546, IN · 48203, MI
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 18020. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.