Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Anchorage, AK
🏆 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
Anchorage
Alaska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($168,800 vs $363,800)
73% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,405)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 21°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $43,282/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.2%)
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $43,282 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
73% lower
272.1 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$195k less
$168,800 vs $363,800
Allentown
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 67.4°F
Anchorage
Median Income
$43,282
$95,731 vs $52,449/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Anchorage, AK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $363,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,405⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $95,731 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Anchorage School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 20.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 59.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 290,674 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Anchorage's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Anchorage 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 Anchorage or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $363,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $95,731), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Anchorage, AK are about 3,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.