Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Arlington, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 22 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $665k less ($168,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1025/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,227)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $84,938/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 2.8%)
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $84,938 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Allentown
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$665k less
$168,800 vs $833,300
Arlington
Median Income
$84,938
$137,387 vs $52,449/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
7% lower
254.4 vs 272.1 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $833,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $137,387 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 2.8% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 73 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Arlington County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 47.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 235,845 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Arlington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Arlington wins 14. 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 Arlington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $833,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $137,387), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Arlington, VA are about 147 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.