Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Allentown leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($168,800 vs $597,200)
36% less violent crime than El Monte
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,605)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 18.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails El Monte by $7,480/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.0%)
El Monte, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Households earn $7,480 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.1 vs 423.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$428k less
$168,800 vs $597,200
El Monte
Median Income
$7,480
$59,929 vs $52,449/yr
El Monte
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
7.0% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $59,929 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 16 and El Monte wins 7. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $597,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and El Monte, CA are about 2,357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.