Side-by-side comparison of Allentown, PA and Pittsburgh, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Pittsburgh has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.27% compared to Allentown's 3.54%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $350,000 in Allentown vs $220,000 in Pittsburgh, while rents come in at $1,770/mo and $1,450/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.
Growth & appreciation: Allentown is growing faster at 0.3% annually vs Pittsburgh's 0.2%. Allentown leads on home value appreciation at 2.5% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.38% in Allentown vs 1.36% in Pittsburgh. Vacancy rates of 5.8% and 6% are mixed — Allentown has the tighter rental market.
Entry point: Pittsburgh offers a lower entry at $220K vs Allentown's $350K — a difference of $130K. With a 20% down payment, that's $44K vs $70K. Pittsburgh combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.
Bottom line: Pittsburgh edges out Allentown on most key metrics. With a 5.27% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Allentown or Pittsburgh.