Live Local, Spend Less: Your Guide to Affordable Allentown Neighborhoods
I’m Jodi, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Allentown, Pennsylvania. I grew up in Bethlehem and moved to Allentown after graduating from the University of Delaware. While I spent a few years living in Kansas, I returned and settled in Fountain Hill, not even a mile from the Allentown border, where I share a home with four zany cats and my teen.
The job market in the Queen City includes a mix of demand in healthcare, logistics and warehousing, and production. Earlier this year, Mayor Matt Tuerk announced the launch of Allentown Works, a new initiative aimed at expanding economic opportunity and training.
The city is close to Philadelphia. It's also handy if you love attending Philly sports in person. If you’re a fan of Broadway or museums, Allentown is less than two hours’ drive from New York City, which is perfect for day trips!
In this guide, I’ll share my top 10 neighborhoods where you’ll get the best value for your dollar and live near restaurants, parks, entertainment, colleges, or anything else you love and want for your quality of life.
Current rent pricing for Apartments in Allentown:
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,519 | $885 | $2,639 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,715 | $1,025 | $2,680 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,107 | $1,275 | $3,155 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,235 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,666 | $1,550 | $1,850 |
1. Jordan Creek
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,365 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,601 | $1,095 | $2,680 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,907 | $1,275 | $2,934 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,076 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,666 | $1,550 | $1,850 |
We love Jordan Creek, which our friends who live there also call NOTI. It’s a diverse, dense, urban neighborhood that’s walkable and kid-friendly. The neighbors are friendly, and there’s a strong sense of community. (Seriously, we love visiting in summertime when people are and the scents of dinner waft outside.) You can visit the Jordan Creek Greenway, a 269-acre park with wooded trails or Covered Bridge Park, which has an 18-hole disc golf course, picnic areas, and sports fields. It’s also a quick trip to downtown Allentown by bus.
2. 6th Ward
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,365 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,624 | $1,095 | $2,680 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,897 | $1,275 | $2,860 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,150 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,666 | $1,550 | $1,850 |
This historic, diverse, and walkable neighborhood near the Lehigh River has a strong immigrant heritage, especially Puerto Rican and Arab communities. There are wonderful local markets like Elias Market and Supremo, and if you have younger kids, Bucky Boyle Park, which is a free spray park. Don’t miss Damascus Restaurant, either, which has fantastic Middle Eastern food. It’s also near the America on Wheels Museum, a transportation museum dedicated to the history of American ingenuity.
3. Lehigh Parkway
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,356 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,656 | $1,095 | $2,680 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,916 | $1,295 | $2,860 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,994 | $1,500 | $3,276 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,725 | $1,600 | $1,850 |
I love the Lehigh Parkway area, with its peaceful, scenic, and outdoor-focused lifestyle centered around the community’s shining star: the Lehigh Parkway Park. Bike ride, jog, or even ride your horse along its trails. The local creek is also stocked with trout from the nearby fish hatchery in the spring. The parkway hosts other events like “Girls on the Run” and “Lehigh Valley Roadrunners,” and during the holidays, you can walk (on “Move It Mondays) or drive through Lights on the Parkway. If you’re a history buff, check out the historic Hunter’s Cabin (Bogert Homestead), which is one of the city’s oldest structures.
4. Downtown Allentown
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,346 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,655 | $1,095 | $2,680 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,032 | $1,295 | $2,860 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,068 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,666 | $1,550 | $1,850 |
Want to be in the middle of it all? Downtown Allentown’s the place to be! This rapidly revitalizing urban core is walkable and just plain interesting with its mix of historic buildings and modern development. The DaVinci Science Center recently opened on Hamilton Avenue and joins the Allentown Art Museum, Miller Symphony Hall, ArtsWalk, and other galleries. See the Phantoms play at the PP&L Center (or other shows, including musical acts, sports events, Disney on Ice, Monster Trucks, and more).
5. West End Allentown
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,770 | $1,200 | $2,485 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,840 | $1,095 | $2,625 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,984 | $1,475 | $3,045 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,113 | $1,695 | $2,594 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,850 | $1,850 | $1,850 |
This gracious neighborhood is pedestrian-friendly. The core of the West End Theater District offers a lively atmosphere with boutiques, cafes, pubs, and theaters (special shout-out to the Udder Bar, with some of the best milkshakes around!). You’re also near Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, a Cedar Point amusement park that’s over 150 years old! I remember my grandparents taking me there to ride the cable cars and Ferris wheel in the ‘70s, when I was a kid.
6. City View - South Mountain
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,252 | $950 | $1,585 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,449 | $1,095 | $2,125 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,757 | $1,295 | $2,700 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,786 | $1,500 | $2,310 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,700 | $1,550 | $1,850 |
Another hub for outdoor enthusiasts, the South Mountain area offers a quiet, scenic vibe and is known for great hiking trails, including the Wildlife Conservancy’s Alpine Street Trail, Klines Lane Trail (an easy family hike), and Bug Trail, a 3 ½-mile loop near Emmaus that’s popular with mountain bikers (and kiddos learning how to ride a bike). It’s also near Lehigh University’s Goodman Campus and the South Mountain Reservoir. You can also visit the Shelter House, which was built in the early 1730s (and is a great place for taking photos).
7. Overlook Park
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,357 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,618 | $1,100 | $2,680 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,911 | $1,295 | $2,860 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,166 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,575 | $1,550 | $1,600 |
Overlook Park, just off Hanover Avenue, transformed a formerly industrial area into a community center, park, and residential development with apartments and townhomes. It’s close to downtown Allentown, major attractions like Dorney Park, DaVinci Center, and PP& Center, restaurants, and parks. Two bus lines run through the development, and the city has begun planning a riverside trail along the Lehigh River.
8. Center City Lehigh Valley
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,361 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,522 | $1,100 | $2,150 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,991 | $1,295 | $2,700 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,970 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,666 | $1,550 | $1,850 |
Tucked next to the Downtown Allentown neighborhood, this Center City community is where it’s at! There are plenty of dining and cafe options representing diverse cultures, like Mexican and Caribbean. Love craft beers? Check out the Pennsylvania Rye Company and Brü Daddy’s. Just around the corner is Supremo Food Market. It’s smaller than a national chain but caters to the city’s large Hispanic and Latin American population with well-stocked shelves. If you shoot hoops, go to Stevens Park or Franklin Park. Prefer baseball or soccer? Head over to Fountain Park.
9. Old Fairgrounds Historic District
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,217 | $885 | $1,585 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,449 | $1,095 | $2,125 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,981 | $1,295 | $2,700 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,995 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,575 | $1,550 | $1,600 |
Like West Allentown, the Old Fairgrounds Historic District puts you right in the center of the fairgrounds, its exhibition halls, the Allentown Farmers Market, and West Park. Allentown Fairgrounds, home since 1852 to the Great Allentown Fair, is the shining star of this neighborhood. We go to the farmer’s market often for fresh produce, meats, wine from local vineyards, and more. You’re also within walking distance to Allen High School and a quick bike or bus ride to Muhlenburg and Cedar Crest colleges.
10. Rittersville
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,419 | $885 | $1,750 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,550 | $1,100 | $2,150 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,104 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,350 | $1,500 | $3,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,575 | $1,550 | $1,600 |
Another neighborhood bordering the Lehigh River, Rittersville, is a historic neighborhood just off Hanover Ave. It’s close to the city’s downtown and borders Bethlehem. The Giant grocery store in the Lehigh Shopping Center, which also has a gym, PetSmart, and a fantastic Vietnamese restaurant, is just minutes away. If you love music or other cultural festivals, you’re a 10-minute drive from Bethlehem’s Musikfest and Celtic Classic. You’re also close to Lehigh Valley International Airport and several large shopping centers that include Target, Sam’s Club, BJ's, and plenty of restaurants.
