Population 318,580 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Northampton County
Household size in Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.01 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Northampton County run a little small, averaging 2.54 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The Allentown area as a whole looks much the same. Compared with other Pennsylvania counties, though, Northampton County has larger households than most.
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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1 | 40.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 42.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.9 | 42.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Northampton County is 42.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.1, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east 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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 11.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 11.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.7 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Northampton County (10.2%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while 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 Northampton County
Renters in Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 26.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.7% | 29.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 31.2% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.9% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +3.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Northampton County rent their homes (28.9%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About four in ten owners (41.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.3 points, mirroring the country.
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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 8.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Northampton County: 6.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Northampton County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Pennsylvania counties.
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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1965 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1967 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1967 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1969 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Northampton County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $943 | $928 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,014 | $1,020 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,177 | $1,170 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,544 | $1,504 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$601 | +$576 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Northampton County costs $1,544 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $601 a month since 2006–10, up 64%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northwest.
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 Northampton County
Bachelor's degrees in Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 26.0% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.0% | 26.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 29.5% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Northampton County (34.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.8 points, in line with the national trend. 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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.0% | 86.4% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 88.0% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 89.7% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 91.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Northampton County is a bit above the national rate: 92.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Allentown area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.4 points, 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 Northampton County
| Period | Northampton County | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 9.4% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Northampton County than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 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).
Northampton County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County | 2.54 | 42.9 | 10.2% | 28.9% | 6.2% | 1969 | $1,544 | 34.5% | 92.4% | 4.6% |
| Lehigh County | 2.63 | 40.5 | 13.3% | 34.4% | 5.7% | 1968 | $1,516 | 33.8% | 89.9% | 6.0% |
| Warren County | 2.45 | 44.5 | 8.3% | 24.9% | 4.1% | 1970 | $1,595 | 36.9% | 93.9% | 5.0% |
| Hunterdon County | 2.56 | 45.9 | 5.6% | 14.9% | 3.5% | 1977 | $1,839 | 57.0% | 96.1% | 4.6% |
| Somerset County | 2.75 | 42.5 | 8.4% | 25.7% | 3.4% | 1978 | $2,235 | 57.0% | 93.5% | 4.8% |
| Schuylkill County | 2.40 | 43.8 | 12.3% | 23.9% | 13.4% | 1954 | $889 | 19.5% | 90.1% | 5.5% |
| Union County | 2.95 | 39.6 | 14.7% | 42.6% | 5.6% | 1958 | $1,910 | 38.0% | 85.4% | 6.6% |
| Essex County | 2.75 | 38.5 | 16.2% | 55.1% | 6.4% | 1960 | $1,796 | 38.7% | 86.3% | 8.9% |
| Richmond County | 2.96 | 41.0 | 11.7% | 32.3% | 8.6% | 1971 | $1,856 | 35.5% | 88.0% | 5.5% |
| Hudson County | 2.44 | 37.1 | 11.7% | 69.3% | 7.3% | 1968 | $2,049 | 49.0% | 87.9% | 6.2% |
| New York County | 2.08 | 40.4 | 8.9% | 74.9% | 15.4% | 1956 | $2,383 | 64.7% | 89.9% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Washtenaw County, MI · Chesterfield County, VA · Collier County, FL · Davis County, UT · Douglas County, CO · Forsyth County, NC · Galveston County, TX · Genesee County, MI · Hamilton County, IN · St. Charles County, MO
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 Northampton County. 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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