Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Aurora, CO
🏆 Aurora 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
Aurora
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($168,800 vs $409,700)
71% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $449/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,651)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $26,236/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,236 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
71% lower
272.1 vs 947.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$241k less
$168,800 vs $409,700
Aurora
Median Income
$26,236
$78,685 vs $52,449/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Aurora, 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 | $409,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,651⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $78,685 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 249⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 17.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 387,349 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Aurora's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Aurora 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 Aurora or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $409,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $78,685), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Aurora, CO are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.