Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Allentown leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($168,800 vs $328,100)
63% less violent crime than Fall River
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 8.4%)
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,202)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
63% lower
272.1 vs 742.9 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$159k less
$168,800 vs $328,100
Allentown
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $52,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 14 and Fall River wins 9. 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 Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $328,100 median home), income ($52,449 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Fall River, MA are about 241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.