Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Columbia 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
Columbia
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Columbia
Homes cost $57k less ($168,800 vs $226,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.9%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Columbia
Columbia, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.9%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,202)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
65% lower
272.1 vs 769.9 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$57k less
$168,800 vs $226,200
Columbia
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$1,646
$54,095 vs $52,449/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,105 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $54,095 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 136,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Columbia 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $226,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Columbia, SC are about 542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.