Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Ann Arbor, MI
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($168,800 vs $416,500)
10% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $26,097/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.7%)
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $26,097 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
10% lower
272.1 vs 302.5 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$248k less
$168,800 vs $416,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$26,097
$78,546 vs $52,449/yr
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Ann Arbor, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $416,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $78,546 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 97.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Ann Arbor Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 59.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 122,216 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 27.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 45.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Ann Arbor's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $416,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $78,546), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Ann Arbor, MI are about 443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.