Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Arvada, CO
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($168,800 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $53,565/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.8%)
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $53,565 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
5% lower
272.1 vs 285.6 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$384k less
$168,800 vs $553,000
Arvada
Median Income
$53,565
$106,014 vs $52,449/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Arvada, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $553,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,706⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $106,014 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 17.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 123,066 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 74.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Arvada's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Arvada wins 12. 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 Arvada or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $553,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $106,014), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Arvada, CO are about 1,559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.