Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $751k less ($168,800 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,853)
16% less violent crime than Boulder
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $27,794/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.4%)
Boulder, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,794 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
16% lower
272.1 vs 322.3 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$751k less
$168,800 vs $919,700
Boulder
Median Income
$27,794
$80,243 vs $52,449/yr
Boulder
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $80,243 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 106,598 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Boulder wins 11. 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 Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $919,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Boulder, CO are about 1,562 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.