Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Chico 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 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($168,800 vs $427,600)
61% less violent crime than Chico
Rent averages $158/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Median income trails Chico by $13,483/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.9%)
Chico, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,483 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
61% lower
272.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$259k less
$168,800 vs $427,600
Chico
Median Income
$13,483
$65,932 vs $52,449/yr
Chico
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Chico
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $427,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $65,932 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 41.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Chico 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 Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $427,600 median home), income ($52,449 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Chico, CA are about 2,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.