Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Clearwater, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 22 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
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($168,800 vs $287,900)
31% less violent crime than Clearwater
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,389)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Cons
Median income trails Clearwater by $6,909/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.7%)
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,909 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/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 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
31% lower
272.1 vs 395.5 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$119k less
$168,800 vs $287,900
Clearwater
Median Income
$6,909
$59,358 vs $52,449/yr
Clearwater
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Clearwater, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $287,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,389⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $59,358 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 31.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 56.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 116,984 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 58.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Clearwater's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Clearwater wins 13. 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 Clearwater or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $287,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $59,358), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Clearwater, FL are about 965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.