ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 18104

Part of Allentown, PA

Pop. 48,683·Lehigh County·23rd most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$2,297/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

+$365

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 18104 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 18104 · $2,297

More expensive than 74% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,380

1 BR

$1,640

2 BR

$2,000

3 BR

$2,550

4 BR+

$2,690

Research median

$2,000/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 18104 usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 1.1% above it in September, about $46 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 18104 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in ZIP 18104 changed +5.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($94,601) is $2,365 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,000); a 3-bedroom is $2,550.

Rank in Allentown

5th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Allentown.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 18102, 4 miles away, rents for 34% less ($1,517/mo), about $9,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 18104. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$27,564/yr

At $2,297/mo median

Location

CityAllentown

StatePA

CountyLehigh County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.3% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 18104 (Allentown, PA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 46.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

48,683

Median income

$94,601

Median age

40.6

Renters

29%

Age distribution

19.3%

23.6%

25.1%

20.5%

Under 1819.3%

18–3423.6%

35–5425.1%

55–6411.6%

65+20.5%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

68.2%

17.1%

White68.2%

Black7.1%

Hispanic17.1%

Asian7%

Other0.6%

Education (25+)

27.4%

21%

46.1%

No HS diploma5.6%

HS diploma27.4%

Some college21%

Bachelor's+46.1%

Housing tenure

71%

29%

Owner71%

Renter29%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 18104 in Allentown, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,738 → $2,297

up 32.2%

Income

$76,972 → $94,601

up 22.9%

Population

45,959 → 48,683

up 5.9%

Renter share

29.8% → 29%

-0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

43.5% → 46.1%

+2.6 pts

Median age

38.7 → 40.6

+1.9 yrs

Rent in ZIP 18104 in Allentown, PA has increased 32.2% since 2021, going from about $1,738 per month to roughly $2,297 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $76,972 in 2021 to $94,601 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 9.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 45,959 to 48,683 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.9% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 43.5% to 46.1%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 18104 in Allentown, PA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 18104

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 18104

About renting in ZIP 18104

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 18104 covers Allentown, PA. The median rent here is $2,297/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,640/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,000/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($94,601/yr), ZIP 18104 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 18104?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $92,000/year (about $44/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,297/mo in ZIP 18104. The local median household income is $94,601/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 18104?

Rent in ZIP 18104 has risen 5.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 18104?

Asking rents in ZIP 18104 are usually lowest in February, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $46 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 18104 compare to other ZIPs in Pennsylvania?

ZIP 18104 is one of the pricier among Pennsylvania ZIP codes for rent, ranking #23 of 261 at $2,297/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 18104 changed +5.3%, against a typical +3.8% across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks.