Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Fayetteville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 8.4%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,202)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
59% lower
272.1 vs 660.2 per 100k
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$975
$53,424 vs $52,449/yr
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$10k less
$158,500 vs $168,800
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $53,424 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 45.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Fayetteville wins 15. 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 Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $158,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Fayetteville, NC are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.