Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Aurora, IL
🏆 Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Aurora
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($168,800 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 31°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $33,494/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.6%)
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $33,494 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$73k less
$168,800 vs $241,600
Aurora
Median Income
$33,494
$85,943 vs $52,449/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Aurora, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $241,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,462⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $85,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 80.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 181,405 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Aurora's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Aurora 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 Aurora or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $241,600 median home), income ($52,449 vs $85,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Aurora, IL are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.