Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Carrollton, TX
🏆 Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Carrollton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($168,800 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,555)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $42,931/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.7%)
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,931 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$159k less
$168,800 vs $327,300
Carrollton
Median Income
$42,931
$95,380 vs $52,449/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
50% lower
137.1 vs 272.1 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Carrollton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $327,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,555⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $95,380 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 39.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 132,284 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Carrollton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 5 and Carrollton wins 18. 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 Carrollton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $327,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $95,380), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Carrollton, TX are about 1,292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.