Allentown, PA 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Allentown is a charming, affordable city in Eastern Pennsylvania. The city’s lively downtown area offers plenty to do, featuring shops, restaurants, and museums. A nearby wildlife preserve provides locals with lots of opportunities to explore the area’s natural surroundings. Besides that, the city is home to a number of festivals and events for the community to enjoy.

Climate & Geography

Classified as a humid continental climate, Allentown experiences warm summers and cold winters. The city receives more rainfall than the national average, with the rainiest months being May, June, and September.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Active adults looking for recreational opportunities will find that Allentown offers an abundance of activities. Retirees can take a stroll through the Allentown Rose Gardens, or go for a hike at the nearby Wildlands Conservancy South Mountain Preserve.

Allentown features several amenities, including plenty of options for shopping and dining, as well as a local farmers market. The city is home to the Lehigh Valley International Airport, providing convenient travel options to residents. Additionally, Allentown offers a number of museums for locals to discover, including the Allentown Art Museum and the Lehigh County Heritage Center.

The community participates in a number of festivals and events each year, including the Great Allentown Fair, which has been an annual event for over 150 years.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The overall cost of living in Allentown is lower than the state and national average. This is mainly due to the cost of housing being significantly lower than average. Utility, transportation, grocery, and health care costs are roughly the same as the national average.

Sales tax in Allentown is on the lower end of average, at just 6 percent. Property taxes in Pennsylvania are above average. Pennsylvania’s income tax rate is 3.07 percent, although municipalities can add additional tax as well. Social Security is not taxed in Pennsylvania.

Health Care

The Allentown Area scores in the top 90 communities to live on Gallup’s Well-Being Index.

Allentown residents will find that the surrounding area features a number of highly rated hospitals. Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, located within Allentown, is ranked the No. 5 hospital in the state by U.S. News. The hospital was nationally ranked in one specialty and rated high performing in four specialties and seven procedures and conditions. St. Luke’s University Hospital Bethlehem Campus, located in Bethlehem, is ranked the No. 7 hospital in the state. The hospital is high performing in three specialties and nine procedures and conditions.