Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Anaheim, CA
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Anaheim
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($168,800 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,958)
54% less violent crime than Anaheim
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $36,089/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.4%)
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,089 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.1 vs 596.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$545k less
$168,800 vs $713,600
Anaheim
Median Income
$36,089
$88,538 vs $52,449/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Anaheim, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $713,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,958⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $88,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Anaheim Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 347,111 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Anaheim's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Anaheim wins 11. 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 Anaheim or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $713,600 median home), income ($52,449 vs $88,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Anaheim, CA are about 2,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.