Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne 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
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $5,784/yr
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Rent averages $298/mo less ($904 vs $1,202)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $5,784 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $16k less ($152,500 vs $168,800)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
12% lower
272.1 vs 307.5 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$5,784
$58,233 vs $52,449/yr
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$16k less
$152,500 vs $168,800
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $58,233 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ 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 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $152,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Fort Wayne, IN are about 506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.