Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Allentown, PA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 18 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Allentown
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $188/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,202)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,054 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Allentown, PA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Homes cost $77k less ($168,800 vs $246,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Albuquerque by $9,054/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$9,054
$61,503 vs $52,449/yr
Albuquerque
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 86.4°F
Allentown
Violent Crime
77% lower
272.1 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$77k less
$168,800 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Allentown, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $168,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,202 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $52,449 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Allentown City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 47.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 33.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 125,292 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Allentown's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 18 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 18 and Allentown wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Allentown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $168,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $52,449), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Allentown, PA are about 1,733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.