Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Asheville, NC
🏆 Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Asheville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($168,800 vs $376,800)
66% less violent crime than Asheville
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $11,361/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Asheville
Asheville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,361 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
66% lower
272.1 vs 796.1 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$208k less
$168,800 vs $376,800
Asheville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$11,361
$63,810 vs $52,449/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Asheville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $376,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $63,810 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 200⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Buncombe County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 46.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 11.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 93,695 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 50.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Asheville's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Asheville wins 15. 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 Asheville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $376,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $63,810), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Asheville, NC are about 518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.