The 18104 ZIP code that covers nearly 23 square miles in Lehigh County is one of the hottest ZIP codes in the U.S. for home sales, according to Realtor.com®. 
The ZIP code - No. 16 on the Top 50 list - includes parts of Allentown and Whitehall, South Whitehall, North Whitehall, Upper Macungie, and Lower Macungie townships.
The area includes older urban homes with unique architecture, new suburban neighborhoods, and regional attractions such as the Civic Theatre of Allentown, Trexler Memorial Park, Malcolm Gross Rose Garden, the Allentown Fairgrounds, Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest colleges, and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
The ranking illustrates the dynamics that the Lehigh Valley, consistently ranked as one of the top mid-sized regions for economic development, is navigating with its housing market as it grows.
The hottest areas on the Realtor.com® list have high demand from buyers and fast-selling homes. That reflects the desirable quality of life the Lehigh Valley offers, as people want to live here and to work at the region’s diversity of employers.
The ranking also reflects the challenges of a tight housing market and rising housing costs that the Lehigh Valley faces amid its population and economic growth. Strategies are underway to address those challenges, led by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
Homes in the 18104 ZIP code received an average of 2.9 times as many online page views compared to properties nationally. The median time that properties in the ZIP code were on the market was 24 days and the median listed selling price was $433,000.
“It shows that people want to be in the Lehigh Valley because of the really tremendous things that are going on,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, who is a member of the Board of Directors of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). “There’s excitement in Allentown. There’s excitement for the whole region.”
Additional housing is critical to meeting that demand and to reducing pressures on cost and availability, Tuerk said. He recently signed an executive order fast-tracking the review process for housing developments with more than 20 units. More than 1,000 units are currently under construction in Allentown.
Last year, the 18062 ZIP code that includes Macungie and parts of Lower Macungie, Hereford, and Upper Milford townships was the 10th hottest ZIP code on the list by Realtor.com®.
In 2023, the 18064 ZIP code that includes Nazareth and surrounding townships ranked fifth.
In 2022, Bethlehem’s 18017 ZIP code ranked sixth. That ZIP code includes much of north Bethlehem, along with Freemansburg and parts of East Allen Township and Hanover Township, Northampton County.
In 2021, Bethlehem’s 18018 ZIP code ranked 12th. That ZIP code includes the historic Bethlehem district and surrounding area.
The Lehigh Valley’s growing economy and inviting quality of life are driving housing demand, as people are seizing opportunities to work and raise a family. The Lehigh Valley is among the fastest-growing regions of the Northeast.
The region’s $55.7 billion economy is creating opportunities for people of all skill and education levels.
The region offers a variety of lifestyles, from thriving downtowns in cities and boroughs to rural suburban communities. The dining scene caters to many tastes, and recreational opportunities range from music and art to history and sports. The region is home to 11 colleges and universities and top-rated healthcare systems.
Twenty-one of the 50 hottest ZIP codes according to Realtor.com® were in the Northeast.
“The latest ranking reveals an evolving buyer mindset, one shaped by elevated mortgage rates, economic challenges, and shifting regional demand—with some cities emerging as more attractive to buyers and, therefore, more competitive than others,” Realtor.com® said.
(Photos at Malcolm Gross Rose Garden in Allentown by Rick Kintzel)