Neighborhood · Allentown, PA

South Poplar Eviction Risk: Moderate

1 census tracts · pop 6,835 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 5.2/10 · range 5.2–5.2

South Poplar is a hispanic / latino neighborhood in Allentown with 1 census tract and a population of 6,835 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 5.2/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 52% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 19% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,515/month sits 15% higher than the Allentown citywide average ($1,317).

Risk score

5.2

Moderate

1 tracts · population-weighted

South Poplar vs Allentown How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

51.7% +48%

Allentown: 35.0%

Average gross rent

$1,515 +15%

Allentown: $1,317

Average HH income

$65,221 +22%

Allentown: $53,403

Poverty rate

10.8% -50%

Allentown: 21.6%

Renter share

62.3% +10%

Allentown: 56.8%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across South Poplar and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 1 tracts span score 5.2–5.2

Why South Poplar scores 5.2

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 3.4–3.4 across tracts

3.4

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 5.4–5.4 across tracts

5.4

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Rent control risk

52% of income on rent · Range 4.0–4.0 across tracts

4.0

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Tenant organizing strength

62% renter households · Range 5.0–5.0 across tracts

5.0

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Economic stress

10.8% below poverty line · Range 2.7–2.7 across tracts

2.7

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 5.1–5.1 across tracts

5.1

Risk score comparison

South Poplar vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

1 tracts in South Poplar

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
42077001501	5.2	6,835	52%	$1,515

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 80

Pop-weighted across 1 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 73%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 49%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 88%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 84%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab

Court-record eviction history in South Poplar

Aggregated across 1 validated constituent tract. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.

Historic baseline (2000–2018)

2,295Total filings (sum)
28.28%Avg annual filing rate
30.9%Peak year (2004)
23.97%Latest filed (2006)

Frequently asked

About South Poplar

What is the eviction-risk score for South Poplar?

South Poplar scores 5.2/10 (Moderate tier) across 1 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does South Poplar compare to Allentown overall?

South Poplar scores 0.2 points higher than Allentown overall (5/10). Renters spend 52% of income on rent vs 35% citywide. Average rent: $1,515 vs $1,317.

What is the average rent in South Poplar?

Average gross rent in South Poplar is $1,515/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of South Poplar residents are renters?

62% of South Poplar households are renter-occupied (vs 57% in Allentown). The neighborhood has 6,835 residents.

Is South Poplar a high social-vulnerability area?

South Poplar sits in the 80th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (highly vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

How safe is South Poplar for landlords?

South Poplar carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (5.2/10). Pop-weighted across 1 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Allentown as a whole (5/10), this neighborhood is in line with the citywide level.

What is the demographic breakdown of South Poplar?

South Poplar has 6,899 residents (Hispanic / Latino Neighborhood). Top groups: Hispanic / Latino (60.7%), White (non-Hispanic) (16.2%), Black (non-Hispanic) (12.5%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near South Poplar

6.1 West End Theatre District 3 tracts · pop 13,339 5.6 Eighth Ward 2 tracts · pop 8,648 6.5 North of Tilghman 2 tracts · pop 8,896 4 Biery's Port Historic District 2 tracts · pop 10,769 2.2 Locust Valley 2 tracts · pop 8,098

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Allentown

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to South Poplar.

5 Park Ridge 1 tracts · pop 2,835 5.6 Fairview 1 tracts · pop 7,598 5.6 East Side 1 tracts · pop 4,020 5.6 Old Allentown 1 tracts · pop 4,127 5.8 Eighth Ward 2 tracts · pop 8,648 4.5 Alton Park 1 tracts · pop 2,602

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