Loading Content...
Northampton's Affordable Housing: Historical LIHTC Development in a Small Pennsylvania City
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Northampton, Pennsylvania, a small city in the Lehigh Valley region, has a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory of 71 units. All of these units are designated as low-income. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents approximately 1.79% of the city's estimated 3,962 housing units.
Northampton has received $405,342 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With three projects, this equates to an average federal funding of $135,114 per project and $5,709 per unit. The city accounts for 0.07% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC funding allocation.
The first LIHTC project in Northampton was completed in 1990 (Main Street Apts), and the most recent project was finished in 1997 (Washington Apts). This indicates that affordable housing has been present in the city for over three decades. All three LIHTC projects were completed during the 1990s.
The affordable housing units in Northampton consist of 57 one-bedroom apartments, 13 two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit. This distribution suggests a focus on housing for smaller households or individuals.
Northampton's population has increased slightly from 9,903 in 2015 to 10,341 in 2022. The median income has risen from $58,383 in 2015 to $70,536 in 2022, indicating improving economic conditions for residents.
Racial demographics have remained relatively stable, with a predominant white population (86% in 2022) and a growing Hispanic community (increasing from 7% in 2015 to 10% in 2022). The Asian population has increased from 1% to 2% during this period.
No new LIHTC projects have been developed in Northampton in the last decade. The improving economic conditions, as evidenced by the rising median income, may suggest a reduced need for additional low-income housing in recent years.
In summary, Northampton's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory provides 71 low-income units to the community. The projects were all developed in the 1990s, with a focus on one-bedroom apartments. The city has experienced slight population growth and increased median income over the past decade, while the racial composition has remained relatively stable with a growing Hispanic community.
