Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Berkeley, CA
🏆 Berkeley 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 ✓ Larger
Berkeley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $1112k less ($168,800 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $865/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,067)
57% less violent crime than Berkeley
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $52,267/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,267 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
57% lower
272.1 vs 638.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$1112k less
$168,800 vs $1,280,300
Allentown
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 74.2°F
Berkeley
Median Income
$52,267
$104,716 vs $52,449/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Berkeley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $1,280,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,067⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $104,716 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 28.1% ✓ 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 | 168⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 249⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Berkeley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 26.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 121,385 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Berkeley's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Berkeley leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Berkeley 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 Berkeley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $1,280,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $104,716), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Berkeley, CA are about 2,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.