Want to live and work in Allentown?

Allentown is one of Pennsylvania's majority-Hispanic cities, with a large Puerto Rican population, a growing Dominican community, and an expanding Mexican presence. Internal migration from Newark and New York City accelerated this shift over the past two decades.

Pennsylvania Dutch heritage (Palatinate Germans) remains visible in surnames, Lutheran churches, and some culinary traditions. There is a historic Syrian and Lebanese community, with Maronite and Syrian-Antiochian churches. Older Polish, Ukrainian, and Slovak communities left churches and clubs that remain active today.

More recently, immigrants from West Africa (Sierra Leone, Liberia) and the Dominican Republic have been settling in the area. Brazilians are few, concentrated in construction and services, connected through informal networks. English and Spanish are heard in roughly equal measure in downtown commerce.

West End and West Park are traditional neighborhoods with large homes, tree-lined streets, and late-19th-century architecture. These are the most sought-after areas for professional families who want to live within city limits. Cedar Crest and the Old Allentown Historic District round out this tier.

Center City, with the revitalized Hamilton Street, has gained new apartment buildings and attracts young professionals connected to PPL and the medical center. East Allentown is more mixed, with working-class row houses and a strong Hispanic community. The South Side has a similar profile, with even lower rents.

For suburban families, South Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie, and Salisbury Township are the classic destinations, offering larger homes, better-rated schools, and still within the Lehigh Valley. Those working in Bethlehem or Easton can reach either by car in 15 to 25 minutes.

Muhlenberg College is a well-regarded liberal arts college with strong programs in theater and the sciences. Cedar Crest College, traditionally all-women, has healthcare and nutrition programs. DeSales University (in Center Valley) and Lehigh Carbon Community College round out the regional offerings.

Lehigh University in Bethlehem, 15 minutes away, and Lafayette College in Easton are prestigious neighboring institutions that serve the region. Penn State Lehigh Valley, in Center Valley, allows transfers to larger Penn State campuses. Many professionals in the Lehigh Valley completed part of their studies at one of these institutions.

For K-12, the Allentown School District faces typical urban-district challenges, with variable performance. Families seek out Parkland School District (Upper Macungie), East Penn School District (Emmaus), and Salisbury Township SD for high-performing public schools. Catholic schools such as Allentown Central Catholic round out the options.

Allentown has crime rates above the Pennsylvania average, with violence concentrated in specific zones. Center City has improved following revitalization efforts, but some surrounding areas continue to see higher rates of robbery and theft. Violent crime is concentrated in certain pockets.

Neighborhoods such as West End, West Park, and Cedar Crest, along with the suburbs (South Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Salisbury Township), are considered safe and attract professional families. The revitalized Center City around the PPL Center and Hamilton Street is safe during the day and during events.

Areas with higher incident rates include parts of the East Side, certain zones of the 6th Ward, and pockets of the South Side. It is not a city where visitors need to be particularly concerned, but neighborhood choice matters for residents. Car break-ins and package theft are the most common crimes citywide.

Summer in Allentown runs from June through September, with highs between 81°F and 86°F and high humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August. Central or window air conditioning is standard in all homes for the more sweltering days.

Winters are cold. Between December and March, highs range from 36°F to 41°F and lows can drop to 19°F. The city accumulates 31 to 43 inches of snow per year, with nor'easters occasionally bringing heavier snowstorms. Oil or gas heating is standard.

Spring and fall are brief but scenic, with spectacular foliage in October in the nearby Pocono Mountains. Newcomers adapt well, though the humid summer calls for regular hydration and winter demands a heavy coat, waterproof boots, and gloves.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is the region's classic amusement park, with roller coasters and a water park. The Allentown Art Museum impresses with its collection. America on Wheels Museum in Easton (15 minutes away) chronicles the history of the automobile. Crayola Experience, also in Easton, is a popular family destination.

Lehigh Parkway is a continuous trail along the river, with historic bridges and parks. Trexler Memorial Park and the Trexler Nature Preserve, home to bison and elk, round out the natural offerings. Bethlehem (15 minutes) has SteelStacks and its famed Christmas City. Easton (20 minutes) has the Crayola Experience.

Further afield, the Pocono Mountains are about an hour away, offering skiing in winter and lakes and cabins in summer. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a premier site for raptor watching. Philadelphia and New York City are both about 90 minutes away, providing a major-city cultural scene on demand.