Is Allentown, PA A Good Place To Live?
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has served as a witness to some of the most important moments in the history of this country. You can seemingly run into historical landmarks no matter where you go in the Keystone State. Numerous Pennsylvania cities have incredible stories to tell and Allentown is no different.
Not a lot of people know this, but Allentown is actually the third most populous city in Pennsylvania. You may be wondering how that came to be.
Aside from its rich history, Allentown has become a popular to live in due to the number of affordable houses there. More people have also moved to Allentown because of its close proximity to Philadelphia. Allentown’s economy is in rough shape however and that may be enough reason for you to pass on moving there.
Is moving to Allentown, Pennsylvania going to work out for you? You can find the answer to that important question by continuing with this article.
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Why Is Allentown a Good Place to Live?
Living in Allentown, Pennsylvania comes with some pretty good perks. Take the time to know more about those perks by checking out the section below.
Historic Town
Do you think of yourself as a history buff? If you answered yes to that, then you will find a lot to love about Allentown.
Based in Allentown is none other than the Liberty Bell Museum. The Liberty Bell Museum is built on the spot where the Liberty Bell was hidden during the Revolutionary War. To find yourself in a place of such historical significance is quite a remarkable experience.
The Liberty Bell Museum is far from the only historical site of note that can be found in Allentown. Places such as the Old Lehigh County Courthouse, the Nonnemaker House, and Trout Hall are well worth your time as well.
If you’re looking for a more involved way of learning about history, you can head to the Allentown Fairgrounds. The long-running fair held on those grounds celebrates the history of the city while also featuring the products of the harvest. You can even check out the farmer’s market while you’re there.
As a tourist, you simply won’t have enough time to see all the historical landmarks based in Allentown. By moving there, you can visit those important sites at your leisure.
Affordable Houses
Pennsylvania is one of the best states in the country to shop for a new home. That’s mainly because of how affordable houses are in the Quaker State. Let’s use some numbers to better understand how affordable homes are in Pennsylvania.
The median cost for a new home in the United States is about $231,000. Prices in Pennsylvania are way lower than that. The drop in median home cost from the rest of the country to Pennsylvania is about 25 percent. That puts the median cost of a new home in the state at around $174,000.
You can already expect to get a great deal by just learning about the median home cost in Pennsylvania. What’s really exciting is that the deal you can get is potentially better than that. If you’re looking at just Allentown, the median cost of a home there is $133,000.
New homes are always big purchases. Not everyone can afford to buy a new home right at the time they move. You may be able to find a very affordable home if you search the market in Allentown though.
Close Proximity to Philadelphia
Another positive aspect of living in Allentown is the city’s close proximity to Philadelphia. Given that Philadelphia is a major hub for business and entertainment, it’s a city that many people flock to.
Finding a home in Philadelphia may not be that easy, however. Properties there are almost always in high demand. In lieu of overpaying for a home in Philadelphia, consider moving to Allentown instead. Allentown is situated close to Philadelphia and the drive there is pretty reasonable.
To be more specific, the drive from Allentown to Philadelphia will likely take about 60 to 70 minutes. That’s probably not the kind of drive you want to make every day. However, if you want to move closer to family or only have to be in the office sometimes, it could work.
If nothing else, Allentown’s proximity to Philadelphia means you can enjoy all the attractions that city has to offer as well. Head there together with your family during a free weekend and have fun touring the city.
Sports
Philadelphia is home to different pro sports teams including the 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, and the Phillies. Getting the chance to see professional athletes doing their thing in person is certainly a lot of fun.
Do note however that you don’t have to make regular trips to Philadelphia to watch pro sports. Allentown is also home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of Triple-A East.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate. Many of the Phillies’ current stars once played for the IronPigs, including first baseman and outfielder Rhys Hoskins. If you’re interested in seeing some up-and-coming Major League stars, you should go and check out an IronPigs game.
What Are the Pitfalls of Living in Allentown?
Staying in Allentown, Pennsylvania long-term can have potential downsides as well. We can talk about those downsides in this part of the article.
Struggling Economy
Likely the biggest cause of concern for Allentown residents right now is the city’s struggling economy. The unemployment rate for the country is currently at 6 percent. In Allentown, that more than doubles up to 12.3 percent.
Unless you already have a job offer in your pocket, moving to Allentown right now is not advisable. Landing a job there could prove to be very difficult at this time. Sadly, it doesn’t seem like things are about to ease up anytime soon for Allentown residents. The city’s growth is also expected to fall well behind the rate for the rest of the country.
Job market growth for the United States is expected to hit 34 percent over the next decade. The job market growth rate in Allentown for that same period of time is expected to be 24 percent.
Things are looking bleak for the job market in Allentown at the moment. The hope is that things will turn around there sooner rather than later. Sadly, Allentown is far from the 10 richest towns in Pennsylvania.
Ample Rain and Snow
Too much precipitation can be tough to deal with. That can be the case whether the precipitation falls all at once or remains persistent over a prolonged period of time.
Some people simply do not like having to struggle with the rain or snow on a regular basis. If you are one of those people, you may not enjoy living in Allentown.
The city gets about 30 inches of snow annually and that’s just above average for an American city. You will still probably need a snow blower though. Meanwhile, Allentown is also on the receiving end of 47 inches of rain every year. That mark is well above average.
We certainly get why some folks would prefer not to deal with all that rain and snow. There are other places you can move to if you want to avoid that kind of frequent precipitation.
What Is the Cost of Living in Allentown?
Knowing about the cost of living expenses in a specific area should be a prerequisite if you’re contemplating a move there. Using the bullet points below, we’ll go through the different cost of living expenses in Allentown, Pennsylvania:
- Healthcare – For the most part, healthcare-related expenses are affordable in Pennsylvania. They are still far from expensive in Allentown, but you will have to pay more. There is about a 9 percent increase in pricing compared to what you’ll see throughout the rest of the state.
- Groceries – The grocery prices in Allentown are similar to what you’ll find in other Pennsylvania cities. It’s good to know that you won’t be racking up higher expenses by shopping there.
- Utilities – Your utility bills are likely not going to make a big dent in your monthly budget. The rates for utility services in Allentown are very similar to what you’ll see in other cities in the state.
- Transportation – Allentown residents can save a bit more money on their transportation-related expenses compared to other Pennsylvania residents. They will have to spend 4 percent less on those expenses relative to other people in the state.
Check out the pros and cons of living in Pennsylvania.
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Related Questions
What Is the Quality of Public Education in Allentown?
The quality of public education in Allentown, Pennsylvania is heavily dependent on the district. You can find some districts served by public schools that have received nothing but high praise. Schools in other districts are notably lacking in that type of acclaim.If you are set on moving to Allentown, remember to look up the schools before buying a home. Look for a home in a district with a highly rated school. Give your kids access to high-quality public education by doing that extra bit of research.
What Are the Must-Try Foods in Allentown?
Whenever you’re in Allentown, you should make it a point to try some shoofly pie, scrapple, and funnel cakes. You can also try out some of the cheesesteaks in the area. They may not top the ones you can get in Philadelphia, but they are still really good.
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Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.
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