Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Atlanta, GA
🏆 Atlanta leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Atlanta
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($168,800 vs $395,600)
68% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $310/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $25,206/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.8%)
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $25,206 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.1 vs 840.6 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$227k less
$168,800 vs $395,600
Atlanta
Median Income
$25,206
$77,655 vs $52,449/yr
Atlanta
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $395,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,512⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $77,655 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 57.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Atlanta Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 494,838 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Atlanta's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Atlanta wins 13. 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 Atlanta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $395,600 median home), income ($52,449 vs $77,655), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Atlanta, GA are about 681 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.