Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Allentown leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($168,800 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,814)
41% less violent crime than Downey
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $31,787/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.6%)
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,787 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
41% lower
272.1 vs 460.5 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$510k less
$168,800 vs $679,000
Allentown
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Median Income
$31,787
$84,236 vs $52,449/yr
Downey
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 13 and Downey wins 10. 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $679,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Downey, CA are about 2,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.