Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Erie
Households earn $9,314 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.8%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Erie
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($101,500 vs $168,800)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($809 vs $1,202)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
More college-educated — 22.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Allentown by $9,314/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$9,314
$52,449 vs $43,135/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
28% lower
272.1 vs 375.6 per 100k
Allentown
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$67k less
$101,500 vs $168,800
Erie
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 22.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 43.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Erie 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 Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $101,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Erie, PA are about 260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.