Population 10,283 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Center Valley
Household size in Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.92 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.80 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | +0.01 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Center Valley holds 2.80 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.84, as it has nationally. Only 47 of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people have larger households.
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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 40.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.4 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 42.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.6 | 42.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.6, the median age in Center Valley is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the Allentown area overall, where the median age is 42.3. The median age has climbed from 37.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 11.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 11.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +0.7 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.2% of households in Center Valley, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 4.3 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 Center Valley
Renters in Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 26.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 29.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 31.2% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +3.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 10.5% of households in Center Valley rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over a third of owners (34.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 34 have a lower share of renters.
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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 8.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Center Valley: just 5.0% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.4 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1965 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1967 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1967 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1969 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Center Valley is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1990, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the northwest. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 19 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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $744 | $928 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,219 | $1,020 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,469 | $1,170 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,738 | $1,504 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$994 | +$576 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Center Valley costs $1,738 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $994 a month from 2006–10, a 133% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Center Valley
Bachelor's degrees in Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.5% | 26.0% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.6% | 26.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.3% | 29.5% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Center Valley is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (56.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.0 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northwest.
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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.8% | 86.4% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.9% | 88.0% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.0% | 89.7% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.6% | 91.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Center Valley: 98.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points, mirroring the country. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Center Valley
| Period | Center Valley | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.4% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.4% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Center Valley has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Center Valley compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Valley | 2.80 | 40.6 | 7.2% | 10.5% | 5.0% | 1990 | $1,738 | 56.5% | 98.6% | 3.1% |
| Coopersburg | 2.57 | 47.3 | 6.3% | 11.8% | 3.8% | 1976 | $1,769 | 43.4% | 95.2% | 1.9% |
| Fountain Hill | 2.51 | 41.3 | 15.7% | 41.9% | 6.9% | 1944 | $1,414 | 30.3% | 88.8% | 8.4% |
| Emmaus | 2.47 | 43.2 | 8.2% | 28.3% | 2.5% | 1965 | $1,429 | 38.6% | 94.7% | 3.0% |
| Hellertown | 2.55 | 46.5 | 9.0% | 21.7% | 6.3% | 1964 | $1,477 | 36.6% | 94.5% | 5.3% |
| Allentown area | 2.56 | 42.3 | 11.5% | 30.3% | 6.5% | 1969 | $1,504 | 33.3% | 91.4% | 5.5% |
| Richlandtown | 2.52 | 42.1 | 13.8% | 26.7% | 5.6% | 1977 | $1,555 | 31.0% | 95.2% | 6.8% |
| Dorneyville | 2.28 | 51.6 | 12.5% | 34.4% | 5.2% | 1978 | $1,950 | 52.1% | 97.6% | 6.2% |
| Bethlehem | 2.46 | 41.2 | 10.0% | 38.5% | 4.9% | 1967 | $1,620 | 38.9% | 91.6% | 5.8% |
| Freemansburg | 2.38 | 39.5 | 13.3% | 43.9% | 5.9% | 1994 | $1,986 | 19.4% | 88.5% | 4.3% |
| Quakertown | 2.55 | 44.0 | 9.1% | 19.4% | 6.5% | 1980 | $1,615 | 34.0% | 94.4% | 6.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Winsted, CT · Wilkesboro, NC · Big Bear City, CA · Lincoln University, PA · Birch Bay, WA · Alden, NY · Venetia, PA · Bithlo, FL · Wright City, MO · Arizona City, AZ
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 Center Valley. 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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