ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 18101

Part of Allentown, PA

Pop. 6,120·Lehigh County·126th most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$1,600/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$332

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 18101 · $1,600

More affordable than 65% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,120

1 BR

$1,330

2 BR

$1,620

3 BR

$2,070

4 BR+

$2,180

Research median

$1,620/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 18101 is 1.7% below its high of $1,628 in March 2026, at $1,600 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in ZIP 18101 changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($44,773) is $1,119 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,120).

Rank in Allentown

3rd cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Allentown.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 18101. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,200/yr

At $1,600/mo median

Location

CityAllentown

StatePA

CountyLehigh County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.8% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 18101 (Allentown, PA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 23.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

6,120

Median income

$44,773

Median age

29.1

Renters

91.7%

Age distribution

17%

46.4%

24.1%

Under 1817%

18–3446.4%

35–5424.1%

55–647.1%

65+5.4%

Gender

52.2%

47.8%

Male52.2%

Female47.8%

Race & ethnicity

24.9%

22.9%

52%

White24.9%

Black22.9%

Hispanic52%

Asian3.2%

Education (25+)

19.5%

33.6%

23.7%

23.2%

No HS diploma19.5%

HS diploma33.6%

Some college23.7%

Bachelor's+23.2%

Housing tenure

91.7%

Owner8.3%

Renter91.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 18101 in Allentown, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,453 → $1,600

up 10.1%

Income

$33,665 → $44,773

up 33.0%

Population

5,437 → 6,120

up 12.6%

Renter share

91.4% → 91.7%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

11.4% → 23.2%

+11.8 pts

Median age

30.1 → 29.1

-1.0 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 18101 in Allentown, PA paid around $1,453 a month. That figure now sits near $1,600, up 10.1% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $33,665 in 2021 to $44,773 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 18101 in Allentown, PA adding about 683 residents over the five-year window, up 12.6% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 11.4% to 23.2% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 18101 in Allentown, PA market of 2023.

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About renting in ZIP 18101

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 18101 covers Allentown, PA. The median rent here is $1,600/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,330/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,620/mo.

At 43% of local median household income ($44,773/yr), ZIP 18101 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 18101?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,600/mo in ZIP 18101. The local median household income is $44,773/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 18101?

Rent in ZIP 18101 has risen 0.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.7% below its high of $1,628 in March 2026.

How does ZIP 18101 compare to other ZIPs in Pennsylvania?

ZIP 18101 is in the middle among Pennsylvania ZIP codes for rent, ranking #126 of 261 at $1,600/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 18101 changed +0.8%, against a typical +3.8% across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks.