2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Allentown

Pennsylvania (PA)

Best for: Lehigh Valley workers and families seeking Northeast affordability with strong regional job access

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability79.9/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population126,044

Median Home$206,600

Median Rent$1,317

Median Household Income$55,494

Cost of LivingRPP 100.0 (US=100; BEA 2024)

Average Commute23.0 min

Unemployment4.2% (BLS 2024 annual avg)

Metro AreaAllentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

79.9overall

Housing & Financial Reality82.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living87.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability78.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity82.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness79.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place78.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion82.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape76.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging82.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment70.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture79.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity82.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionModerate. Peak-hour slowdowns occur on major corridors, but many everyday trips remain manageable.

Weekend EscapeGood to very good. Parks and regional day-trip destinations provide useful weekend variety.

WalkabilityAbout 67/100 citywide Walk Score. Several districts support walking for daily needs, although convenience still varies by neighborhood.

Airport AccessGood to excellent. Regional airport access is practical, with larger nearby hubs expanding domestic and international options where needed.

Outdoor AccessGood to very good. Local parks, trails and regional recreation provide meaningful outdoor options.

Healthcare AccessStrong to excellent. Major hospitals, outpatient networks and specialty providers offer practical routine and advanced-care access.

Air QualityGenerally manageable, with seasonal pollen, ozone, smoke or weather-related episodes as the main concerns.

Third Places / Social LifeExcellent. Restaurants, cafés, parks, arts, universities and neighborhood districts create a strong everyday social fabric.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Stable

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Allentown is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #231 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest advantages are lehigh valley jobs; affordability; walkability; logistics; regional access. The clearest tradeoffs are winter; housing pressure; traffic; neighborhood variation; limited major-airport convenience. The MNM profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

Allentown feels shaped by lehigh valley jobs and its broader lehigh valley / eastern pennsylvania setting. Neighborhood choice has a meaningful effect on commute, walkability, housing cost and overall day-to-day experience.

STRENGTHS