Commercial Real Estate Market in Allentown, PA
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
632 active listings and 6,773 off-market properties in Allentown, PA. Commercial property asks $150/SF to buy and $15.50/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Allentown, PA spans 59.6 square miles in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office space in Allentown, PA asks $139/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 19.9% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 13.1% in 2019.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Retail
Retail space in Allentown, PA asks $175/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 6% across the Northeast region in 2025, little changed from 6% in 2019. Down from a 2020 peak of 7.1%.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Allentown, PA runs 7.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 5.4% in 2019. Nearly 2.4x the 2021 low of 3.2%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Multifamily
Multifamily space in Allentown, PA asks $161/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 5.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 4% in 2022.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 49.4%
- Open space 18.2%
- Industrial 16.4%
- Commercial 7.6%
- Civic 7.4%
- Mixed use 1%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Park
Medium Density Residential
Low Density Residential
Medium High Density Residential
Limited Industrial
Allentown, PA zones 11,548 acres across 18 districts. Commercial zoning covers 7.6% of zoned land, residential 49.4%, open space 18.2% and industrial 16.4%. The largest single district is Park at 18.2%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 24% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Park (P)
The purpose of this district is to primarily recognize public recreation land, cemeteries and public/semipublic open spaces.
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Allentown, PA has 178,714 residents in 70,061 households. Density runs 2,998 people per square mile. Median household income here is $66,983 and median gross rent $1,377 a month.
178,714
Population
70,061
Households
2.6
Avg Household Size
37
Median Age
27%
College-Educated
85%
High-School Grad
59.6 sq mi
ZIP Area
2,998
Density / Sq Mi
$66,983
Median Household Income
$38,599
Median Earnings
$1,377
Median Rent
$225,007
Median Home Value
Tools
Lease vs Buy Breakeven
At $15.50/SF/Yr lease vs $150/SF buy → buying wins if held > 1.3 years.
At a 10.4% gross asking yield the payback reads short relative to leasing. Assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% a year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost, 2% closing plus 5% selling costs, and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Valley | — | — |
| Catasauqua | — | — |
| Fountain Hill | — | $12.00 |
| Whitehall | — | $17.91 |
Commercial property in Allentown, PA asks $150/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Allentown?
Commercial property in Allentown, PA asks an average of $150 per square foot. The 7 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $154/SF. Retail carries the highest asking price at $175/SF.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Allentown?
Asking lease rates in Allentown, PA average $15.50 per square foot per year.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy commercial space in Allentown?
Buying beats leasing in Allentown, PA if the property is held longer than 1.3 years, comparing $15.50/SF/Yr asking rent with $150/SF asking price. The model assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% of value per year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost on the cash and a 3% annual rent escalator.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Allentown?
Allentown, PA zones 11,548 acres across 18 districts, of which 7.6% is commercial and 16.4% industrial. The largest single district is Park at 18.2% of zoned land. The purpose of this district is to primarily recognize public recreation land, cemeteries and public/semipublic open spaces. Residential zoning covers 49.4% and open space 18.2%.
Where does Realmo's Allentown market data come from?
Realmo compiles Allentown, PA figures from 8 recent recorded sales, 263 active sale listings, 369 active lease listings, 6,773 tracked off-market properties, the current Allentown zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 263 active for-sale and 369 active for-lease listings in Allentown, PA. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 11,548 zoned acres across 18 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Northeast region level, retail vacancy is reported at Northeast region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Northeast region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
