ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 18109

Part of Allentown, PA

Pop. 18,446·Lehigh County·137th most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$1,554/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.2%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$378

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 18109 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 18109 · $1,554

More affordable than 69% 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

$1,110

1 BR

$1,310

2 BR

$1,600

3 BR

$2,040

4 BR+

$2,150

Research median

$1,600/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

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in ZIP 18109 changed -0.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($58,031) is $1,451 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,310); a 2-bedroom is $1,600.

Rank in Allentown

2nd cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Allentown.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 18109. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,648/yr

At $1,554/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 (-0.2% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 18109 (Allentown, PA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 16% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,446

Median income

$58,031

Median age

36.6

Renters

47.9%

Age distribution

22.9%

25.9%

25.3%

14.7%

Under 1822.9%

18–3425.9%

35–5425.3%

55–6411.1%

65+14.7%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

37.2%

12.7%

53.6%

White37.2%

Black12.7%

Hispanic53.6%

Asian1.7%

Education (25+)

19.5%

41.6%

22.9%

16%

No HS diploma19.5%

HS diploma41.6%

Some college22.9%

Bachelor's+16%

Housing tenure

52.1%

47.9%

Owner52.1%

Renter47.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 18109 in Allentown, PA has changed in 5 years

Income

$48,065 → $58,031

up 20.7%

Population

17,266 → 18,446

up 6.8%

Renter share

51.8% → 47.9%

-3.9 pts

Bachelor's+

16.3% → 16%

-0.3 pts

Median age

33.9 → 36.6

+2.7 yrs

Median household income rose from $48,065 to $58,031 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.7% shift. The population has grown by 6.8% since 2021, moving from about 17,266 residents to roughly 18,446. Renters now make up 47.9% of households, compared with 51.8% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 18109

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 18109

About renting in ZIP 18109

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 18109 covers Allentown, PA. The median rent here is $1,554/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,310/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,600/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($58,031/yr), ZIP 18109 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 18109?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,554/mo in ZIP 18109. The local median household income is $58,031/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 18109?

Rent in ZIP 18109 has been roughly flat over the past year, a -0.2% change.

How does ZIP 18109 compare to other ZIPs in Pennsylvania?

ZIP 18109 is in the middle among Pennsylvania ZIP codes for rent, ranking #137 of 261 at $1,554/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 18109 changed -0.2%, against a typical +3.8% across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks.