Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($168,800 vs $250,300)
41% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,313)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $20,277/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.3%)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $20,277 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) 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 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
41% lower
272.1 vs 458.4 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$82k less
$168,800 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$20,277
$72,726 vs $52,449/yr
Fort Worth
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Fort Worth 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 Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $250,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,322 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.