Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $76,815 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 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 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($111,200 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,747)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $76,815/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$76,815
$121,259 vs $44,444/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
90% lower
106.4 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.2% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$279k less
$111,200 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 22 categories. Allen wins 16 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $111,200 median home), income ($121,259 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.