Center City
Neighborhood in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Lehigh County 18101, 18102
Row and townhouses from $55,000 in Center City
Dense blocks of two- and three-story row houses and townhouses branch from busy commercial areas, lining streets with a wide range of historic revival details popular in the mid-1800s through early 1900s like protruding bay windows and roofs adorned with dormer windows. Prices range from $55,000 to $350,000 depending on rehabilitation needs and square footage. Most Center City residents rent rather than own their homes, and many properties on the market contain several rentable units. Front yards are hard to come by, with most front doors and small porches opening directly onto sidewalks lined by the occasional tree and lines of street-parked cars.Pocket parks and playgrounds throughout Center City
A handful of small green spaces provide breathing room between dense city blocks, like the ArtsWalk Pocket Park, shadowed by young trees and colorful murals on nearby buildings. “It’s like a little outdoor lobby for all the businesses there,” Ciardi says. Further from the central business district, playgrounds and basketball courts populate classic community parks like Stevens and Valania parks, as well as Fountain Park, a much larger collection of baseball and soccer fields between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Little Lehigh Creek.Attending Allentown City School District
Depending on home address, kids might attend Central Elementary School which earns a D-plus on Niche, followed by Raub Middle School which earns a D-plus and Allen High School which earns a C-minus. Allen High has a student-teacher ratio of 20-to-1.Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Phantoms games and summer festivals
Center City nurtures an evolving arts and entertainment scene, putting on a bevy of year-round and seasonal events. The Miller Symphony Hall hosts performances by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and a wide array of traveling musical groups, and the Allentown Art Museum’s permanent and rotating exhibits are free to the public. During hockey season, fans cheer on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at PPL center. The annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival draws tens of thousands of foodies and music fans to Center City each summer, ready to enjoy a day of enormous block-party vibes, live music, vendors and plenty of barbecue treats and craft brews.Lehigh Valley International Airport, walkability and LANTA buses
Frequent fliers leave Center City for Lehigh Valley International Airport, less than 5 miles north of home. Extensive sidewalk systems allow Center City commuters to walk to dozens of major employers within a mile of home. LANTA bus routes make stops throughout the city, and those with personal vehicles may depend on subscriptions to downtown parking garages and lots rather than seeking out metered street-parking spots each day. Center City has a CAP Index crime score of 7 out of 10, higher than the national average of 4.Shopping and dining on Hamilton Street
Centered around Hamilton, Sixth and Seventh streets, Center City’s major business centers combine significant recent redevelopment with holdovers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Along Hamilton Street, pedestrians pass the Resurrected Life Community Church, a new congregation housed in an iconic 260-plus year-old Gothic Revival church known for hiding the Liberty Bell from the British, towering modern office buildings and mismatched Italianate commercial buildings leftover from the iron and silk manufacturing era that are now home to dozens of restaurants and specialty businesses.“I get coffee from La Vida Café pretty much every day, and I love assembly 88. It’s hard to find a great men’s boutique” Ciardi says. Smaller, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and those with more updated dining rooms serve global cuisines from authentic Mexican favorites to Carribean staples, and trendy spots like Pennsylvania Rye Company and Brü Daddy's serve cocktails and craft brews to the post-work crowd. For groceries, shoppers head to small convenience stores throughout the area but can find a wider selection at Supremo Food Market off Seventh Street.
Noise and traffic in the heart of Allentown
As a center of business and entertainment, areas closest to Hamilton, Sixth and Seventh streets experience a higher level of noise during rush hour and in the evenings thanks to traffic and nightlife.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
Photography Contributed By
Vincent Mauriello
Video By
Adam Lapallo
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Mike Dorney
Mike Dorney
Weichert Realtors
(484) 623-9933
114 Total Sales
1 in Center City
$615,000 Price
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Christina Taliaferrow-Mosleh
Christina Taliaferrow-Mosleh
D-N-A Property Management Co
(844) 698-2590
69 Total Sales
1 in Center City
$191,000 Price
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Ayon Codner
Ayon Codner
Keller Williams Real Estate - Allentown
(866) 721-8306
49 Total Sales
6 in Center City
$215K - $3M Price Range
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Sureya Lococo
Sureya Lococo
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Real Estate
(484) 666-0504
121 Total Sales
1 in Center City
$155,000 Price
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Shabana Pathan
Shabana Pathan
Keller Williams Real Estate - Bethlehem
(484) 666-3084
381 Total Sales
7 in Center City
$150K - $325K Price Range
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Loren Keim
Loren Keim
Century 21 Keim Realtors
(610) 831-4500
510 Total Sales
13 in Center City
$65K - $1.2M Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Stevens Park
- Basketball
- Playground
Fountain Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Soccer
- Playground
Allentown Arts Park
Valania Park
- Basketball
- Playground
Jackson Street Park
- Bike Trails
- Trails
- Playground
Franklin Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Botanical Gardens
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Center City | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 8 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 8 | 4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 4 |
| Burglary | 7 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 8 | 4 |
| Larceny | 7 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Center City Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Center City, Allentown sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Center City, Allentown over the last 12 months is $210,000, up 24% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$214,900
Median Sale Price
$210,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$200,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$215,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
292
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
24%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$129
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
5,659
Number of Homes for Sale
52
Median Year Built
1903
Months of Supply
2.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,733
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,649
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
964
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Jun 141 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
42,941
Median Age
33
Population Density
90 ppl/acre
Population under 18
30.1%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.9%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$36,833
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$52,853
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
73.3%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
9.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.4%
% Population in Labor Force
62.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
45''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
8''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
48
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
88
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
47
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
West Park Historic District
Century-old homes a short drive from Allentown’s commercial areas
1st Ward
The oldest neighborhood Allentown along the Lehigh River
6th Ward
A historic and diverse waterfront community bursting with culture
Fullerton
Convenient shopping, dining and commercial destination outside Allentown
Highland Park
A small residential neighborhood centered around its namesake cemetery
East Allentown
Suburban living with easy access to Lehigh Valley International Airport
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