Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Fontana
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($168,800 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $40,781/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.2%)
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,781 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Allentown
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$338k less
$168,800 vs $506,600
Fontana
Median Income
$40,781
$93,230 vs $52,449/yr
Fontana
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Fontana wins 16. 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 Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $506,600 median home), income ($52,449 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Fontana, CA are about 2,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.