Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($168,800 vs $540,400)
73% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $463/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,665)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $33,404/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.7%)
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $33,404 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
73% lower
272.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$372k less
$168,800 vs $540,400
Denver
Median Income
$33,404
$85,853 vs $52,449/yr
Denver
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Denver, 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 | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Denver 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $540,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Denver, CO are about 1,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.