Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($168,800 vs $339,500)
20% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,446)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $40,254/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.0%)
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $40,254 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
20% lower
272.1 vs 339.4 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$171k less
$168,800 vs $339,500
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$40,254
$92,703 vs $52,449/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.2% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $339,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Chesapeake wins 15. 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 Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $339,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Chesapeake, VA are about 274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.