Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Baltimore, MD
🏆 Baltimore 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 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Baltimore
Maryland
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Baltimore
Homes cost $34k less ($168,800 vs $202,900)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Median income trails Baltimore by $5,900/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.9%)
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,900 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 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 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
83% lower
272.1 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$34k less
$168,800 vs $202,900
Baltimore
Median Income
$5,900
$58,349 vs $52,449/yr
Baltimore
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $202,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $58,349 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 423⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 34.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 43.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 19.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 584,548 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Baltimore's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Baltimore 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 Baltimore or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $202,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $58,349), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Baltimore, MD are about 108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.