Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Cary
North Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($168,800 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,538)
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $72,868/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.4%)
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $72,868 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$309k less
$168,800 vs $477,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
Cary
Median Income
$72,868
$125,317 vs $52,449/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
74% lower
71.0 vs 272.1 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,538⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 19 ✓ 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 (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 4.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 4 and Cary wins 19. 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 Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $477,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Cary, NC are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.