Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Centennial, CO
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($168,800 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,949)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $72,168/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.4%)
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $72,168 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.4%)
36% less violent crime than Allentown
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Allentown
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$418k less
$168,800 vs $586,500
Centennial
Median Income
$72,168
$124,617 vs $52,449/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
36% lower
172.8 vs 272.1 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Centennial, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $586,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,949⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $124,617 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 15.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 107,702 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Centennial's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Centennial wins 14. 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 Centennial or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $586,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $124,617), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Centennial, CO are about 1,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.