Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Allentown, PA
🏆 Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $60,730 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% less violent crime than Allentown
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Allentown
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $487k less ($168,800 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $781/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $60,730/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$60,730
$113,179 vs $52,449/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
19% lower
219.1 vs 272.1 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.4°F
Allentown
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$487k less
$168,800 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Allentown, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $168,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,202 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $52,449 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Allentown City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 47.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 33.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 125,292 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Allentown's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 15 and Allentown wins 8. 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 Alexandria to Allentown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $168,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $52,449), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Allentown, PA are about 149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.