Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Amarillo, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Amarillo
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Amarillo
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Amarillo by $8,179/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Amarillo
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $205/mo less ($997 vs $1,202)
Households earn $8,179 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
61% lower
272.1 vs 690.5 per 100k
Amarillo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$8,179
$60,628 vs $52,449/yr
Amarillo
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Amarillo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $172,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $60,628 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 86.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | AMARILLO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 17.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 200,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 59.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Amarillo's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 5 and Amarillo wins 18. 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 Allentown to Amarillo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $172,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $60,628), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Amarillo, TX are about 1,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.