Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Allentown, PA
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $68,810 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($168,800 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $68,810/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$68,810
$121,259 vs $52,449/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
61% lower
106.4 vs 272.1 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.4°F
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$221k less
$168,800 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Allentown, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $168,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,202 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $52,449 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Allentown City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 47.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 33.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 125,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Allentown's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Allentown wins 7. 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 Allen to Allentown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $168,800 median home), income ($121,259 vs $52,449), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Allentown, PA are about 1,277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.