Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Eugene
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($168,800 vs $406,000)
14% less violent crime than Eugene
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Median income trails Eugene by $9,032/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.1%)
Eugene, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (7.1%)
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,032 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
14% lower
272.1 vs 317.9 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$237k less
$168,800 vs $406,000
Eugene
Median Income
$9,032
$61,481 vs $52,449/yr
Eugene
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
7.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $406,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,269 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $61,481 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 44.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 45.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Eugene wins 14. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $406,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Eugene, OR are about 2,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.