Side-by-side comparison of Scranton, PA and Allentown, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Scranton has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.32% compared to Allentown's 4.28%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $145,000 in Scranton vs $210,000 in Allentown, while rents come in at $980/mo and $1,200/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Allentown is growing faster at 0.3% annually, while Scranton is losing population. Allentown leads on home value appreciation at 2.5% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.44% in Scranton vs 1.38% in Allentown. Vacancy rates of 6.8% and 5.8% are mixed — Allentown has the tighter rental market.
Bottom line: Allentown edges out Scranton on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.28%, Allentown's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Scranton or Allentown.