Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Allentown as a whole is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Allentown differs from Pennsylvania on 13 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Allentown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Allentown
1 in 5 working-age adults in Allentown has no health insurance
18.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
More Allentown adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.9%), vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. There are 17 miles of trails across 37 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Allentown
52.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 18.6% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Pennsylvania figure falls outside Allentown’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Allentown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Allentown is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #976 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 29% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 10%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Allentown’s median household income is $55,494; among the 7,563 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 24%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Allentown compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 126,044 residents, Allentown is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Allentown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
17 miles of trails across 37 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Allentown adults…
Allentown runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Allentown
3 community health centers in Allentown, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Allentown; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Allentown adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Allentown runs above Pennsylvania.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Allentown and the towns around it
Allentown’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | D | 38.9% | 14% | 18.5% | CDC place |
| Salisbury Township | B− | 34.5% | 11.6% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| South Whitehall Township | A− | 30.9% | 10.8% | 12.5% | ZIP codes |
| Whitehall Township | B | 33.4% | 11.7% | 15.7% | ZIP 18052 |
| Fullerton | — | — | — | — | |
| Dorneyville | — | — | — | — | |
| Cetronia | — | — | — | — | |
| Bethlehem | C+ | 34.8% | 11.8% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Fullerton, Dorneyville and Cetronia: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Allentown adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Allentown
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Allentown is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Allentown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Allentown | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.3%24.8–30.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.7–18.3 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%17.1–21 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%32.6–45.8 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.2–15.9 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.2%30.5–38.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.1%28.4–36.4 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%26.1–32.6 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.7–4.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.6%15.4–22.1 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.5%16.3–20.8 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.9%28.6–37.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13–19.1 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.5%33.6–45.8 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.3%16.2–20.4 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%73.6–80.8 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.9%49.1–56.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.8%78–83.6 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72.2–78.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.5%54.5–64.5 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%67.7–81.8 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.8–26.6 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%33.5–41.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.4%15.5–19.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%17.4–21.5 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%7–8.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8.3–9.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.4–12.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.5–6.4 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Allentown
Is Allentown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Allentown is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health, #976 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Allentown?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 45.8%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Allentown?
Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Allentown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Allentown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 16.2–20.4%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Allentown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Allentown.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.